News from the world rail freight market.
Czech wagon manufacturer Nymwag is building 20 Zacns 88 tank wagons which the country’s army has ordered for the transport of aviation fuel. The company said there are demanding technical and quality requirements including a unique matt khaki livery used exclusively for military vehicles.
Stadler has delivered its 100th EuroDual electro-diesel loco, which was ordered by leasing company European Loc Pool and will be used by Havelländische Eisenbahn. ‘The concept has truly proven its worth. The locomotive has become the benchmark for dual-mode traction across Europe’, said Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Valencia, on September 4.
Conor Feighan is to step down as Secretary General of the European Rail Freight Association on October 31. ERFA has begun the process of recruiting a new Secretary General, with applications invited by September 24. Feighan said ‘I have been honoured to lead the ERFA team in Brussels for the past six years. Whilst there have been many challenges for rail freight during this time, I have enjoyed working with many people dedicated to the development of the industry.’
GB Railfreight’s final Class 66/3 loco leased from Akiem is ready to enter traffic after conversion at EMD Longport to meet UK specifications and the restricted loading gauge. Extensive work on the loco, which originally entered service in Germany in 2003, has included a complete engine overhaul, crankshaft polish, new bearing, turbo, alternator and compressor, as well as a number of modifications, including passive noise reduction measures, air-conditioning, TPWS and GSM-R.
Katoen Natie, which operates petrochemical logistics hubs along the US Gulf Coast and a large logistics hub in Norfolk, Virginia, has expressed ‘strong support’ for the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. ‘We wholeheartedly support this merger and the vision of a truly transcontinental railroad’, said Frank Vingerhoets, President of Katoen Natie North America, on September 3. ‘Union Pacific’s strong Gulf Coast network has long been the backbone of our petrochemical logistics operations. Linking that network directly with Norfolk Southern’s East Coast routes will create unprecedented efficiencies. It means the plastic pellets and other products we handle can reach key markets faster and more seamlessly than ever.’
On September 1 Contargo launched a thrice-weekly service connecting Duisburg with Dourges in northern France. A service from Krzewie in Poland to Dourges is to start on September 26 .
Kazakhstan’s KTZ has carried out its first shipment of sunflower oil in 40 ft containers using flexitanks. The pilot batch was shipped from to Nantong in China through the Dostyk border crossing. The 40 ft flexitanks allow the transport of up to 26 tonnes of liquid, with protection of the contents and minimised risks of leaks and contamination. KTZ said vegetable oils exports to China have increased 10-fold since it began using 20 ft containers and flexitanks in 2020.
Bob Lawson has been promoted to Vice-President of Class III railway South Central Florida Express and General Manager of US Sugar’s rail operations. ‘The efficient and reliable transportation of sugarcane to our mill is crucial to our operations, and Bob has played an integral role in that process for many years’, said US Sugar President & CEO Ken McDuffie.
Recently-elected General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen Gilman Lang attended New York & Atlantic Line’s mid-year safety meeting, following the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement running to the end of 2028. ‘BLET members at NYA can be confident that their union leadership is working hand-in-hand with the railroad to keep safety, training and professionalism at the forefront’, said Lang. Bruce Lieberman, EVP & CFO of NYA parent company Anacostia Rail Holdings, said ‘this is the second amicable contract negotiation concluded with BLET for Anacostia’s railroads in the past two years. It’s a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, trust, and a shared dedication to safety.’