Block train services to the port of Oostende have restarted after more than 15 years, with Lineas operating what was the port’s first train carrying cars. This follows 1½ years of work by Infrabel to make the existing railway in the port operational again, with investment in signalling and transhipment infrastructure. Car trains will eventually run up to three times a week. On May 15 the port’s CEO Dirk Declerc said ‘this car train symbolises more than just a new connection. It is tangible proof of our transformation into a safe, full and innovative port. Here, we are bringing road, water and rail together in a smart way.’
The port of Virginia and Norfolk Southern have launched a RailGreen Corridor designed to help shippers lower emissions. NS operates daily service connecting Norfolk Harbor with the Virginia Inland Port intermodal terminal in Front Royal using biofuel to power its locomotives. Customers can then purchase blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates from 123Carbon to apply toward their supply chain emissions, and as customers purchase certificates, NS acquires more biofuel.
The volume of rail freight between Kazakhstan and China totalled 11·4 million tonnes in the period from January to April 2025, up 13% compared to the same period last year and up 48% over the past five years. KTZ said it is implementing large-scale infrastructure projects to increase the capacity, with particular attention to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and infrastructure on the border with China.
Crossrail Benelux is to be rebranded as BLS Cargo Nord from September 1.
The US Short Line Safety Institute has released its annual Federal Railroad Administration research results paper analysing 20 Safety Culture Assessments conducted in 2024. Areas of strength were identified as the provision of PPE, approaching management with safety concerns, employee empowerment, accountability/responsibility for safety and coaching/mentoring/modelling. opportunities for improvement include safety action plans, reporting safety concerns/resolutions, organisation or maintenance of the property, recognition of safe work practices and efficiency/operational testing.
Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded a consortium of Guinovart, Contratas y Ventas, Azvi and Sacyr a €66·6m contract to increase the clearances in 21 tunnels on the single track currently non-electrified line between Bobadilla and Algeciras in readiness for ‘rail motorway’ traffic and with a view to future electrification. The contract also covers work to increase stability on slopes above and below the line.
OmniTRAX has been appointed to operate the Port Muskogee Railroad in Oklahoma. ‘OmniTRAX brings the expertise, experience and national reach that align with our vision for growth’, Executive Director of Port Muskogee Kimbra Scott said on May 28. ‘With a strong US rail network, close relationships with Class I railroads and a dedicated team focused on Muskogee, this partnership enables better service, smarter freight solutions and new opportunities for industrial expansion.’ Port Muskogee Railroad is OmniTRAX’s 30th railway and fifth US port partnership.
PKP Cargo Connect is to sell its 50% stake in Terminale Przeładunkowe Sławków-Medyka and its 9% stake in Euroterminal Sławków. This forms part of a broader effort to restructure the PKP Cargo group.
Green Cargo has appointed Claes Scheibe as director of vehicle and property assets, succeeding acting director Magnus Schening. His previous roles have included CEO of Hector Rail.
Mount Vernon Railroad has been launched as a partnership between operator OmniTRAX and owner Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. It provides shunting services at Mount Vernon port, which handles 25 000 wagons/year with plans for large-scale multimodal development to support steel, automotive, plastics, energy and heavy industrial growth. OmniTRAX CCO Ryan Higgins said ‘by combining exceptional development sites with unsurpassed multimodal service, Mount Vernon is poised for a dynamic new chapter of growth and development’.