PSA Mittelmeerzug between Basel and Genoa runs on schedule 
At the end of 2018, PSA installed the Mittelmeerzug, the first-ever direct rail connection between Genoa in Italy and Basel in Switzerland. The train reduces the transit time for containers by at least seven days (sailing time required to reach the North-European ports) and... more
France introduces new transport certificate
As part of the implementation of the French prime minister's directive No. 6149/SG on Covid-19 in terms of border controls, the ministry of the interior has drawn up an official declaration to be used for France. This document (international travel certificate) is required... more
Belgian carrier honours Covid-19 heroes
European railfreight operator Lineas revealed the brand new "Heroes" locomotive in its main hub in Antwerp, Belgium. With the special edition locomotive, wrapped in white for the occasion, Lineas wants to honour today's heroes in the battle against the coronavirus: all... more
New rail service between Padua and southern Italy
Mercitalia, part of FS Italiane, has launched a freight transport service in Italy linking Padova Interporto to terminals in Bari and Catania. The first phase throughout the Covid-19 emergency period initially involves transporting mainly essential goods, and then in a second... more
Eurasian rail service simplified
The United Transport and Logistics Company – Eurasian Rail Alliance (UTLC ERA), part of RZD Holding, has launched a regular multimodal container service between Scandinavia and China. The new service uses a unified CIM/SMGS invoice. This single CIM/SMGS transport document... more
Customs clearance at the German-Polish border
Logistics specialist Spaarmann, part of the Rhenus Group, continues to handle customs clearance for its customers as usual, even during the corona crisis, by making use of a binational team and business sites on the German and Polish sides. Employees are working 24 hours a... more
SaniStop campaign for truck drivers launched
Because of the corona crisis, many service stations and rest stops have severely reduced their operating hours and some of them have closed their sanitary facilities completely. Professional drivers are therefore often not able to comply with the basic hygiene requirements such... more
Rostock becomes hub for Silk Road traffic
The first 49 containers with industrial and medical products from Xi’an in Shaanxi province in central China have arrived in the overseas port of Rostock in Germany via the rail and sea route of the New Silk Road. DB Cargo Eurasia organised the transport. From China, the... more
Rail carrier takeover strengthens market position
The Swiss railfreight company BLS Cargo posted good results in 2019. This good position is an important asset that will help the company to weather the current corona crisis, the carrier commented. In 2019, BLS Cargo's turnover rose to CHF 293 million. The uptick of 24.7% is... more
Building an ocean-to-ocean corridor
The reduction of Chinese subsidies for rail transport between China and Europe is likely to have a drastic impact on flows and give rise to a reallocation across the routes of the New Silk Road, the latest UIC study concludes. Southern routes via Kazakhstan will be the first... more