Czech open access operator LEO Express launched a LEO Express Easy feeder bus service between Mukacheve in Ukraine and Košice in Slovakia on October 16, connecting with its trains to Praha.
On October 8 transport ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia signed a letter of intent to establish an Alpine-Western Balkan rail freight corridor running from Salzburg through Villach and from Linz through Graz to Slovenia, Zagreb, Beograd, Sofia and the Turkish border.
On October 15 the railways of Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan introduced uniform rates for China – Iran transit container trains, intended to attract traffic which currently goes by sea. Single rates for wagonload traffic are planned for 2016.
Rift Valley Railways has won a contract to manage the container terminal at Mukono in Uganda.
Niedersachsen transport authority LNVG has extended Metronom’s contract to operate Hamburg – Cuxhaven service RE5 by one year to December 2018.
CD Cargo’s Polish subsidairy Koleje Czeskie and Belarus Railways have signed an agreement allowing KC locos to operate from Poland to Belarus border stations over three dual-gauge cross-border routes at Brest, Bruzhi and visa.
PKP Intercity has announced a 1·8bn złoty modernisation programme to be financed through a 1bn złoty cash injection from PKP SA, privatisation of PKP Energetyka and EU sources. This includes 1·4bn złoty for the modernisation of 60 locos and 400 coaches and 0·4bn złoty to improve maintenance facilities.
