For the second year in a row, the month of May is bringing waves of bad weather in northern Italy which disrupt the country’s rail freight industry. A few wagons of a convoy near Borgo Mantovano, a town between Verona and Bologna, was knocked over by the strong winds. “I have never seen freight trains…
Category: Human interest
Do EU citizens know what’s at stake with the EU’s transport policies?
The rail industry has vehemently opposed the Commission’s Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD), which would allow gigaliners or mega trucks to dominate the European transport sector price-wise and capacity-wise. Apart from the industry, however, such policies also concern the public, considering they could heavily impact life quality in many ways. Is the European public aware…
GBRf Locomotive named after reluctant hero signalman
The UK avoided a freight disaster forty years ago, thanks to a brilliant, but modest signalman. Commemoration has been made for the quick thinking and potentially life saving actions of Willie Taylor. On the fortieth anniversary of his actions, Carlisle Signalman Willie Taylor has been honoured with a locomotive named in his memory at Carlisle…
French Minister to summon SNCF chief over early retirement deal
France’s Finance and Economic Affairs minister, Bruno Le Maire, is to summon SNCF chief, Jean-Pierre Farandou, to a meeting to explain the signing of an ‘early retirement’ agreement with the four main labour unions at the state railways which he believes circumvents a 2023 French reform law. The agreement, signed at the end of last…
French Minister to summon SNCF chief over early retirement deal
France’s Finance and Economic Affairs minister, Bruno Le Maire, is to summon SNCF chief, Jean-Pierre Farandou, to a meeting to explain the signing of an ‘early retirement’ agreement with the four main labour unions at the state railways which he believes circumvents a 2023 French reform law. The agreement, signed at the end of last…
Greek railway accident: more evidence surface over ‘lost container’
The investigation into the fatal railway accident involving a passenger and freight train in Greece a year ago continues on three fronts. Some of the most critical findings currently concern the notorious ‘lost wagon/container’ that was not registered as part of the freight train service but was allegedly carrying illegal cargo, specifically dangerous chemical substances…
DB and GDL strike deal for collective bargaining agreement
Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) finally sealed the deal on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA will be retroactively implemented from 1 November 2023 and will last until 31 December 2025. One of the main bones of contention between GDL and DB is that the union wanted to…
DB vs GDL: strikes end, agreement in sight
There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) said that a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement should be expected in the coming days. “Until then, the GDL will refrain from further strikes”, the parties stated in a joint note. Five […]
Strike in Finland halts rail freight services and exports
A number of Finnish trade unions started a political strike Monday 11 March which will continue until 25 March. The initiative has a significant impact on the Finnish transport industry, including rail freight. According to the Confederation of Finnish Business (EK), the strike will cost Finland 320 million euros in damage to the gross domestic […]
Strike in Finland halts rail freight services and exports
A number of Finnish trade unions started a political strike Monday 11 March which will continue until 25 March. The initiative has a significant impact on the Finnish transport industry, including rail freight. According to the Confederation of Finnish Business (EK), the strike will cost Finland 320 million euros in damage to the gross domestic […]