Industrial Division’s Cargounit leasing business has taken delivery of first of three Bombardier Transportation Traxx MS locomotives authorised for operation in Poland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and The Netherlands. ‘Adding multi-system locomotives to our fleet is a part of our core strategy aimed at fulfilling the growing demand of our customers for modern locomotives for international rail transport in central and eastern Europe’, said CEO Łukasz Boroń. Cargounit now has almost 180 locomotives, including main line diesel and electric designs and diesel shunters, as well as electric multiple-units.
Rail Cargo Group has commissioned Yellowstar to develop a transport management system and terminal operating system for controlling its international intermodal operations. Roll-out will begin in Hungary, with all countries to be covered in 2021. ‘This is Yellowstar’s largest project since the company was founded in 2009’, said Rianne Groffen, Chief Commercial Officer at the Dutch software company. ‘It is our ambition to eliminate inefficiency while at the same time increasing the user-friendliness of the supply chain. Spreadsheets and emails are out, connectivity and collaboration are in.’
Nurminen Logistics is to launch a Chongqing – Finland freight services on September 28, with a transit time of 14 days to Helsinki and 17 days to Narvik in Norway.
The Lion Electric Co has signed a memorandum of understanding for Canadian National to acquire 50 zero-emission lorries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at intermodal terminals in urban areas.
China Railway has opened a line to the port of Leqingwan in Zhejiang province. The 76·3 km branch with six intermediate stations diverges from the Jinhua –Wenzhou line at Waiyang. Built at a cost of 6·8bn yuan, it is expected to handle 11·5 million tonnes of freight each year, rising to 15 million in the longer term.
Aves One has expanded its rail portfolio with the €14·5m acquisition of a fleet of one year old T3000 articulated wagons for carrying road trailers, large containers and swap bodies. Aves One has joined the existing financing agreement arranged by UniCredit Leasing Austria, and the wagons are managed by Wascosa. Aves One said this type was in particular demand during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic when there were restrictions on lorries crossing national borders.
Grindrod has reported ‘resilient’ results for the six months to June 30, with trading profit up 10% compared to the first half of last year. Revenue was down by 5%, and cash generated from operations up 40% at R507∙4m. It has commenced sulphur shipments by rail from the port of Richards Bay to Zambia, which it said ‘bodes well for the strategic unlocking of the north-south corridor’ to and from the port. This route now handles bidirectional traffic including sulphur, copper concentrate and fertiliser. Grindrod has also deployed locomotives and wagons on the Dar es Salaam corridor.
