Construction of a link between the Mongolian and Chinese railheads at the Gashuun Sukhait border crossing was officially launched on May 14. Mongolia’s Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene said coal export capacity will ‘surge’ on completion, generating an additional US$1·5bn in annual revenue in support of the government’s goal to raise GDP per capita to US$10 000 and strengthen Mongolia’s role as a trade partner for China.
After 37 years at the company, Union Pacific President Beth Whited is to step back to become a strategic advisor from July 1 until early 2026. ‘She made history as the company’s first female President, and her significant contributions to our industry, company and people are undeniable’, CEO Jim Vena said on May 9.
Czech operator Orlen Unipetrol Doprava has taken delivery of the last of 11 Siemens Mobility Vectron MS electric locos ordered as part of a programme launched in 2017 to renew its electric fleet.
Russia’s Elga Coal Co has begun double-tracking its 531 km Pacific Railway from the Elga coking coal deposit to a port at Cape Manorsky on the Sea of Okhotsk. This will increase capacity from 30 to 50 mtpa. The line is currently being operated in a trial mode, although 2 million tonnes of coal have already been shipped.
As part of an agreement by Kazakhstan and the UAE to deepen food security, on May 12 Kazakh national railway KTZ sent a first trainload of Kazakh wheat via Turkmenistan to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. It is to be transported by sea to Jebel Ali in Dubai.
Slovakian wagon manufacturer Tatravagónka has become an official technology partner of the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport. Poland’s CLIP group is a terminal operator member and Hungarian forwarders’ association MSZSZ has joined as national peer association.
LeShuttle Freight has obtained the European Safe & Secure Parking Organisation’s gold accreditation for its lorry parking facilities at the Channel Tunnel’s French side, following on audit which looked at factors including the height of barriers, lighting, camera and the entry/exit system. ‘LeShuttle Freight Village is a dedicated space for truck drivers to be able to stop and enjoy a welcoming and relaxing environment’, said Deborah Merrens, Chief Commercial Director at LeShuttle. Gold accreditation ‘adds an additional layer of assurance and underpins our pledge to invest in and continuously improve the well-being and comfort of drivers wherever possible.’
US freight railway group Anacostia Rail Holdings has appointed Mark Nuchurch to the new role of Manager of Safety & Compliance. He was previously Manager of Safety & Operating Practices for CSX Intermodal Terminals.
