A new rail terminal has been inaugurated in Fuenlabrada, just south of Madrid. The facility offers an intermodal road-rail connection to Spain’s large ports. It specialises in semi-manufactured and temperature-controlled goods and food. The Fuenlabrada terminal, operated by Athos Rail, is located on a plot of 19,000 square metres. It has two rail platforms and […]
Category: Rail freight
‘Brakes, brakes, brakes’ the takeaway from Liverpool Street incident report
The UK Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its findings after an investigation of a runaway train incident at Liverpool Street Station in London. The non-fatal accident happened in October 2022. It involved a freight train which was serving an engineering possession at the time. In its findings, the RAIB stressed the importance of drivers […]
Rail Cargo Group establishes two new Italian connections
Rail Cargo Group (RCG), the rail subsidiary for Austrian national rail operator ÖBB, has announced that it is launching two new rail connections between Italy and Germany. Alongside the two new connections, it is increasing the frequency of services on the Verona-Wuppertal line. RCG is launching two new rail lines between Italy and Germany. According […]
Russia considers giving priority to oil and gas on its railway network
The Russian government is considering giving priority to oil and gas on its railway network in its Far Eastern region. Earlier, Russian oil and gas companies reported regular refusals for transportation of their products from rail operators. As oil and gas are essential commodities for Russia’s economy, the government is now considering giving them priority […]
German chemical industry says it is suffering from continuous rail strikes
The German chemical industry is suffering from the continuous rail strikes, according to branch organisation VCI. The organisation’s director states that the industry cannot afford more strikes, and calls for labour union GDL and Deutsche Bahn to come to an agreement. “We simply cannot afford another standstill of the railways,” says head of VCI Wolgang […]
DB’s third attempt to take GDL to court fails
Deutsche Bahn is trying in many ways to stop the wave of strikes announced by the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL). Most recently, the company tried to take legal action against the union for the third time. However, the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court ruled in favour of GDL, stating that the strikes are proportionate, […]
Scottish rail freight champion but money too tight to mention
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport at the Scottish Government, has spent a week in consultation with the rail freight industry. The minister’s multiple appearances included addressing assemblies in Glasgow at a rail industry seminar and at less fashionable Grangemouth. Keynote speeches delivered a message of support to the rail freight sector. She also delivered […]
Third time’s the charm? DB sues GDL once again over strike dispute
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is for the third time taking legal action against the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL). This time, the company is appealing to the Frankfurt am Main Labor Court to stop the strike planned for tonight, Monday 11 March. The main reason behind DB’s actions is “the far too short lead time of […]
Russia profits from Red Sea crisis, sees rail freight to Europe grow
Russian Railways (RZD) is benefitting from the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, according to a number of European logistics companies. As maritime shippers have diverted their routes, logistics companies are getting more and more requests to transit goods through Russia as a quicker and cheaper alternative. Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue to attack ships passing […]
UK Budget leaves rail freight sector feeling unloved
Jeremy Hunt delivered a budget speech last week. It may be his last. it’s not because the rail freight sector has put out a contract on the UK Chancellor. However, there may well be an election before he has another opportunity to deliver some solace for the sector. A budget speech may not be the […]