Grain and metals drive up rail transport volumes 
On Russian Railways’ owned network, 1.29 billion t of freight were transported in 2018, 2.2% more than in 2017. Grain volumes rose sharply by 22.6% to 27.1 million t, ferrous metal jumped by 7% to 78.1 million t, and iron and manganese ores increased by 5.7% to 116.7 million... more
Slower growth in China’s railway market
Although China’s railway technology market will remain at a high level over the next five years, it will only grow by 0.6% per annum. Following high, heavily subsidised investments in new rail vehicles in 2018 and 2020, the OEM market will actually decline after 2020.... more
Swedish carrier lands steel haulage contract
The steel company, SSAB, has shown its trust in the Swedish railfreight carrier Green Cargo by awarding it a new contract to handle the crucial flow of steel ingots and finished products between SSAB’s Swedish plants in Luleå, Borlänge and Oxelösund. The new, at least five... more
Japanese group runs Eurasian trial train
The Japanese service provider, Nippon Express, is testing the use of an exclusive blocktrain running from Xian (China) to Duisburg (Germany). The 16 – 17 day trial consists of a single freight train that is expected to arrive in Duisburg within the next few days. Nippon Express... more
Innovative technology for freight cars
The European wagon leasing company Ermewa is intensifying its cooperation with the Competitive Freight Wagon (CFW) initiative. As part of a preliminary project, the course is to be set for the first application of the freight wagon concept. Ermewa and the initiative’s... more
US short line railroad breaks all traffic records
The US-based Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) broke all of its records for revenues and freight carload traffic in 2018. Once again, the movement of anthracite coal showed the most growth. R&N’s coal business grew in response to increased demand by domestic electric... more
Polish freight carrier wins new coal delivery contract
Poland-based PKP Cargo has won a tender for transporting coal and limestone sorbents to the PGE Group. The gross value of the contract is more than PLN 665 million (EUR 155 million). PKP will haul most of the materials to the Dolna Odra and the Opole power plants. Under the... more
Alternatives for Italy-Germany-Sweden traffic
In the aftermath of the train accident on the Storebælt bridge in Denmark, the country’s ministry of transport has banned the use of pocket wagons on the national rail network until 22 January. To ensure the flow of goods, the Swiss intermodal operator Hupac has developed a... more
China’s rail network growing fast and expanding
China Railway Corporation intends to inaugurate 6,800 km of new rail tracks in 2019. With the added capacity, China will be able to handle 3.5 billion passengers and nearly 3.4 billion t of cargo next year. By the end of 2018, the country's operational rail network covered... more
Transport order for US short line railroad in Georgia
Omnitrax is shouldering rail transport for Georgia-Pacific’s new lumber plant in Albany GA (USA). The pulp and paper company will connect a rail track from its facility to the mainline of the Omnitrax affiliate, Georgia & Florida Railway (GFRR), in the adjacent... more