Leasing company GATX Rail Germany has awarded WBN Waggonbau Niesky a contract to supply 50 Moltrag modular wagons for use by BASF from April 2018, with an option for a further 100.
The Gemeinschaft der Europäischen Transsibirien Operateure & Spediteure (Association of European Trans-Siberia Operators & Forwarders) has changed the meaning of GETO to Group of European TransEurasia Operators & Forwarders, reflecting the growing importance of other Eurasian corridors in addition to the traditional Trans-Siberian route.
Kansas City Southern and Bulkmatic Transport Company has signed a memorandum of understanding to form a 50/50 joint venture which would facilitate and expand the export of liquid fuel from the USA to Mexico. The project will include the US$50m construction of a block train terminal in Salinas Victoria near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, which would be served by Kansas City Southern de Mexico. KCS said the joint venture was a direct result of Mexican energy reform legislation passed in 2013 which will culminate in the opening of the refined energy products market in 2018.
In the first half of 2017 Israel Railways carried 4·6 million tonnes of freight, up 0·5% on the same period in 2016; freight operations have been affected directly by line closures for infrastructure works. Freight revenue was 181m shekels, down from 184m shekels as a result of a 6% reduction in ISR’s tariffs.