Covid-19: more compensation for Swiss railways 
The Swiss federal office for transport (BAV) has decided to take specials measures to ensure that railfreight companies remain financially afloat and functioning during the corona crisis. Specifically, the terms of business will be temporarily adjusted to lighten the load on... more
VPI: workshops must stay open
The association of wagon keepers (Verband der Güterwagenhalter, VPI) calls upon the German federal government to ensure that workshops remain in operation in Germany and throughout the EU. “Without maintenance and essential repairs of rolling stock, there is a risk that... more
Contract for maintenance train service awarded
Harsco Rail has been awarded a three-year mobile maintenance train service contract by Network Rail, the largest infrastructure manager of railway network in the UK. The USD 25 million contract calls for Harsco Rail to operate and maintain Network Rail’s fleet of eight mobile... more
Railways ready to step in
Railfreight is ready to take over additional transport in Germany and cross-border services for trade and industry during the corona crisis, the network of European railways (NEE) and the association of German transport companies (VDV) say. Road hauliers have repeatedly... more
Railfreight braves corona crisis
Lokomotion, the train operator for transalpine railfreight services through Austria, reports that it has implemented comprehensive measures to guarantee that international transport links remain open. In close cooperation with the service companies, Lokomotion has agreed... more
Colombia’s Regiotram del Norte goes ahead
The consortium “ARCO Bogotá Zipa” (comprising Ardanuy Ingeniería Colombia and Coral Delgado y Asociados) has been chosen to oversee the contract supervision for the planned feasibility studies and designs concerning the freight and passenger railway between Bogotá and Zipaquirá,... more
Long semitrailers 10% more efficient
After the sale of 100 units, Schwarzmueller is conducting a first review of the success of the long semitrailer that was introduced to the German market on a trial basis in 2019. The Austrian premium manufacturer produces this type of vehicle primarily for the automotive and... more
China connected again 
Railfreight operations are returning to routes linking China and Western Europe. Davies Turner has reported that its weekly direct railfreight import service from China to the UK was resumed in mid-March. Tony Cole, Davies Turner’s head of supply chain services, said that “our... more
TIR boosts India-Iran-Afghanistan intermodal trade
The first intermodal transport, using TIR from India via Chabahar port in Iran, was completed last week. Carrying factory line components, the operation took seven days in total - five by sea and two by road from Chabahar port in Iran to the final destination in Afghanistan. In... more
3,250 trains go green
CFL cargo Deutschland has introduced 100% renewable, clean electricity for all of its trains, thus enabling the environmentally friendly operation of up to 3,250 block trains that circulate in Germany each year. By purchasing certified green electricity, supplied by... more