News from the world rail freight market.
Orlen Termika, Innosped and Innofreight have developed MonTainer XXXL containers to enable the more efficient transport of biomass by rail. The MonTainer XXXL has a capacity of 57 m³, which is 11 m³ more than the XXL used previously, and enable an increase in the total volume transported per train from 3 915 m³ to 4 959 m³. ‘Innovations in logistics are just as important as those in energy production. Fewer train journeys also means less traffic, noise and nuisance for residents’, said Andrzej Gajewski, CEO of Orlen Termika.
To support Bulk and Coal customers across its Hunter Valley and Northwest operations, Pacific National is to establish a depot in Muswellbrook, NSW by early 2026, with dedicated accommodation facilities. It is also launching a recruitment drive to attract qualified train drivers, with the introduction of a ‘lifestyle roster’ designed to make the role more appealing to drivers living both in and outside the region. ‘Our lifestyle roster gives drivers the freedom to live where they choose and work in the Hunter Valley at Muswellbrook’, said CEO Brett Grehan. ‘The lifestyle roster, first introduced by our coal team at Coppabella, Queensland in 2023, has been a great success for our people and Pacific National. Muswellbrook is another great example of our commitment to regional rail employment and our continued investment in growth, people and the communities we serve.’
On December 23 Stadler announced type approval for its Euro9000 locomotives in Italy, adding to existing approval for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first dynamic trials for the Italian approval began in 2021.
Czech state freight operator ČD Cargo has leased a second Siemens Mobility Vectron dual-mode loco from Northrail, following one leased since early April 2024. Both were recently deployed on freight trains diverted over the Cheb – Schirnding – Marktredwitz route to Germany owing to infrastructure works on the busy main over the Děčín/Bad Schandau border crossing.
On December 16 Railpool announced that it had acquired 12 Siemens Mobility Vectron A39 locos with approval for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands from DB Cargo. Railpool has also acquired seven Traxx AC2 locomotives from DB Cargo.
Leonhard Weiss is expanding its fleet with the full-service lease of a Stadler Euro9000 electro-diesel locomotive from ELP to support increasing demands from construction projects, the need to operate services independently and for use on routes that could not be served with a previous hybrid locomotive. Commissioning is scheduled for January 2026.