A digital interlocking has been commissioned at Hupac’s Busto Arsizio-Gallarate terminal in Italy, replacing an electromechanical system from 1998. This will facilitate the lengthening of sidings at the site to handle 740 m trains.
Canadian Pacific has announced its best-ever quarter and a record June for moving Canadian grain and grain products, moving moved 8·41 million tonnes in Q2 and 2·76 million tonnes in June.
Transpetrol has been renamed VTG Rail Logistics Polska. ‘In rebranding the Polish company, we’re offering our customers a great deal more clarity in the future’, said Günther J Ferk, head of VTG Rail Logistics Europe, on July 2. ‘Under the VTG name, they will continue to receive the high quality, pan-European rail logistics services they’re already accustomed to.’
OmniTRAX is expanding its Rail-Ready Sites programme to the Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad, working with the San Joaquin Partnership to promote the developable property adjacent to the railway. The initial three sites are suitable for rail-served agriculture, manufacturing, asphalt, cement, chemicals, food processing, lumber, steel and distribution facilities, OmniTRAX said.
UTLC ERA has launched a container service between Serbia and China, its 150th regular transit route. The first train left Beograd on June 22 with 41 containers for Wujiang in Hubei Province.
The Railway Association of Canada, Asociacion Mexicana de Ferrocarriles and Association of American Railroads issued a joint statement saying the US-Mexico-Canadian trade agreement which came into effect on July 1 ‘constitutes a message of confidence and stability for Mexico, Canada and the United States that will encourage railway companies to respond to the needs of an increasing volume of goods in the North American market. In 2020 the railway industry has been an essential activity in the framework of the Covid-19 pandemic and its contribution is expected to be decisive for the reactivation of logistics chains and economic growth in the region.’
Sven Löffler joined CFL Multimodal as General Manager, Sales on July 1.
Vietnam’s national railway is planning to launch freight services to China this year, with connections to Russia and Europe. Traffic would include fruit and other agricultural products in refrigerated containers.
Julia Leone has joined the US Short Line Safety Institute as Manager, Research & Organisational Development.
George Lippiatt has been appointed Chief Financial Officer & Group Executive Strategy at Aurizon, having been in the role on an acting basis since March this year.
James L Wainscott, a retired Chairman, President & CEO of AK Steel Holding Corp, has been appointed to the CSX board, serving on the company’s finance committee.