Freight news – Page 2
-
NewsFreight sector calls for the same political attention as high speed rail
EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association has called for greater political awareness of the sector, arguing that recent proposals to accelerate the development of a pan-European high speed rail network ‘barely mentioned’ freight.
-
NewsConstruction of Bilbao freight bypass to resume this year
SPAIN: Construction of a further 3·2 km section of the Bizkaia Southern Rail Bypass is to begin by the end of this year, the Basque regional authority has announced.
-
NewsFrance backs South African rail freight decarbonisation
SOUTH AFRICA: French development agency AFD has signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate state-owned rail and port logistics group Transnet’s transition towards net zero emissions, and is proposing to provide a €300m sustainability-linked loan.
-
NewsEthiopian Railways seeks to be the logistics hub of the Horn of Africa
ETHIOPIA: National railway Ethiopian Railways Corp held a National Railway Business Investment summit with a view to attracting investment and establishing partnerships to implement projects.
-
-
In depthFreight: A fresh approach to wagon bearing health
Flats on wagon wheelsets continue to pose a derailment risk to railways around the world. Technology company Trilogical believes its novel approach to monitoring vibration could offer more reliable insights into wheelset condition.
-
NewsDiesel locomotive battery tender to be tested in Western Australia
AUSTRALIA: Freight operator Aurizon is to trial the use of a Battery Electric Tender intended to reduce emissions from heavy haul rail operations.
-
NewsKnorr-Bremse and VTG Rail UK sign long-term wagon digitalisation agreement
UK: Leasing company VTG Rail UK has signed a long-term framework agreement for Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK to supply its FreightControl Sentinel system, which forms the backbone of VTG’s iWagon platform for the digitalisation of wagons.
-
NewsKiwiRail welcomes Interislander train ferry replacement agreement
NEW ZEALAND: The government has announced an order for two rail-equipped replacement ferries for the Interislander service, along with agreements for associated landside works which will reuse existing infrastructure where possible.
-
NewsUkrainian Railways orders 55 Traxx Hauler electric locomotives
UKRAINE: Alstom is to supply national railway Ukrzaliznytsia with 55 Traxx Hauler electric freight locomotives tailor-made to local requirements.
-
NewsUnion Pacific and Norfolk Southern shareholders approve merger
USA: Shareholders of both companies have approved Union Pacific’s planned acquisition of Norfolk Southern. Combining Union Pacific’s network in the west of the country with Norfolk Southern’s routes in the east would create the first railway company spanning the USA from coast to coast.
-
NewsBHP battery locos delivered to the Pilbara
AUSTRALIA: Mining company BHP has taken delivery of its first purpose-built battery-electric heavy haul locomotives for trials between its Pilbara iron ore mines and Port Hedland.
-
-
In depthInnovation: Testing and revenue service trials mark Digital Automatic Coupling progress
Digital Automatic Couplings are expected to transform the prospects for European rail freight, with fundamental changes to both technology and operations, but introduction can only be achieved step by step. Testing and revenue service trials are now underway, preparing the path to a widespread roll-out.
-
NewsRobot dog checks freight trains for defects
LITHUANIA: The national railway’s freight business LTG Cargo is testing the use of a robot dog which autonomously walks around a train and uses artificial intelligence to search for wagon faults.
-
NewsNexrail orders electric-battery hybrid freight locomotives for emission-free operation from terminal to terminal
Completely zero-emission operation and the ability to benefit from electricity cost arbitrage are the among the reasons why Nexrail selected batteries rather than diesel to provide last-mile capabilities for a fleet of powerful locos it has ordered from Stadler, the leasing company’s CEO Luuk von Meijenfeldt tells Railway Gazette International.
-
NewsLiquidation threat looms over Hungarian rolling stock companies
HUNGARY: Court proceedings have begun for the liquidation of rolling stock businesses Ganz-Mavag International and Dunakeszi Járműjavító, but the government is seeking to protect their future by declaring them businesses of national strategic importance.
-
NewsCER Cargo Group to buy Austrian rail freight operator WLC
AUSTRIA: Hungarian rail freight company CER Cargo Group has agreed to acquire Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo.
-
NewsColombian rail revival backed by development bank
COLOMBIA: Latin America and Caribbean development bank CAF has approved a loan of up to US$300m to support the Railway Reactivation, Sustainable Mobility & Logistics Efficiency programme which aims to transform Colombia’s transport infrastructure.
-
Rail Business UKRail freight sector raises concerns about Great British Railways plans
UK: The rail freight sector has expressed concern that the future Great British Railways might focus on its own nationalised passenger services at the expense of freight operations, which will remain in the private sector.