News from the world rail freight market.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works has launched work on the 10 km second phase of the Aqina – Andkhoy railway at cost of US$12m. The railway from Turkmenistan to the Afghan side of the border at Aqina was opened in 2016 and upgraded in 2021. Construction phase two is being undertaken by domestic contractor Arya Khan Afghan, under the supervision of the Turkmenistan’s railway authority. The ministry said survey and design work is underway for the a further 55 km extension in Jowzjan province.
Pinsly Railroad Co President & CEO Ryan Ratledge has been appointed to the US Surface Transportation Board’s Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council as the small railroad representative. He will serve a three-year term.
Nurminen Logistics is to launch a service between Parma in northern Italy and its wholly-owned terminal near Orebro in Sweden in February 2026, building on its existing rail services between Modena and Sweden. ‘Rail freight delivers efficiency and scale that road transport simply can’t match’, said VP International Rail Operations & Sales Marjut Linnajärvi. ‘Our new connection between Parma and Sweden extends our European network and gives our customers a reliable way to move large volumes with short lead time while cutting costs and emissions.’
CRRC Dalian TE36A mainline diesel locomotives have been approved for operation in Kazakhstan, with the first two commissioned at national railway KTZ’s depot in Mangistau.
LeShuttle Freight has launched a Driver Companion App to provided lorry drivers with customised live travel and Channel Tunnel shuttle status updates, as well as information about duty free offers and regular updates on events at LeShuttle Freight Village and the terminals.
Captrain is to use Kasasi’s software platform to consolidate and process telematics data from its wagons. The neutrality of the Kasasi platform will enable Captrain visualise and efficiently use data from a wide variety of sources, allowing it to track locations and routes, detect above-average downtimes, predict arrivals, plan train formations and manage wagon repairs. Data can also be shared directly with customers for transparency. ‘Digitalisation leads to increased efficiency and quality. This, in turn, creates the best conditions for satisfied customers’, said Achim Lutz, Head of Sales at Captrain Deutschland.