Freight news – Page 138
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NewsMilitary workshops to build 1 050 wagons
ARGENTINA: Military equipment manufacturer Fabricaciones Militares is to build 1 050 wagons for state-owned freight operator Trenes Argentinos Cargas y Logística SA, under a contract worth 972m pesos that was signed on July 28 in the presence of Defence Minister Agustín Rossi and Minister of the Interior & Transport Florencio ...
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NewsAlstom-TMH freight loco certified for operation
RUSSIA: Alstom and Transmashholding have obtained certification for the operation of their jointly-developed 2ES5 twin-section 25 kV AC freight locomotives, ahead of the planned entry into revenue service on the Baikal-Amur Magistral route later this year. In June 2011 Russian Railways ordered 200 2ES5 locomotives for delivery by 2020. ...
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NewsCrude oil rules to be tightened
USA: The Department of Transportation issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on July 23 setting out ‘comprehensive proposals’ to improve safety in the movement of flammable materials by rail, with a particular focus on crude oil and ethanol. The proposals are based on an Advanced Notice published by the Pipeline ...
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NewsRift Valley Railways capital investment plans
AFRICA: Kenya – Uganda railway concessionaire Rift Valley Railways plans to make capital investments totalling more than US$100m during the current year. On July 8 the operator announced the final US$69·6m drawdown from a US$164m debt facility which was raised from international financiers in 2011 to fund a US$287m five-year ...
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NewsDiesel-hydraulic locomotive developed
ROMANIA: A 1 260 hp diesel-hydraulic locomotive for shunting and light freight applications has been developed by Grampet Group’s Electroputere VFU rolling stock manufacturing and Reloc Craiova refurbishment subsidiaries. Branded ‘Terra Nova’, the four-axle locomotive is targeted at export markets. Initial discussions have begun with potential customers, while certification tests ...
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NewsRefrigerated freight services launched
USA: McKay TransCold launched TransCold Express last month, saying it is 'the first refrigerated boxcar unit train connecting the Midwest and West Coast in over half a century'. The service runs over the BNSF network between Selma in California and the RidgePort Logistics Center 60 km southwest of Chicago, where ...
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NewsUPS to move China – Europe containers by rail
INTERNATIONAL: Express logistics operator UPS announced on June 30 that it was adding a full container load rail option between China and Europe to its portfolio of transport services. UPS will initially offer rail movement on two routes: Chengdu – Łódź and Zhengzhou – Hamburg. These will be augmented by ...
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NewsDon’t squelch oil by rail, says Greenbrier
USA: Announcing provisional orders from ‘multiple customers’ for an initial 3 500 of its Tank Car of the Future flammable products wagons on June 19, Chairman & CEO of The Greenbrier Companies William Furman warned that government regulation must not delay the implementation of new design standards or impede the ...
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NewsAddis Abeba - Djibouti electric locomotives ordered
ETHIOPIA: A contract for CSR Zhuzhou to supply 35 electric locomotives for the future Addis Abeba – Djibouti standard gauge line was signed on June 19. Delivery of the three passenger locomotives and 32 freight locos able to haul trains of up to 4 000 tonnes will begin in October ...
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NewsDB Schenker Rail launches Köln - Istanbul semi-trailer service
EUROPE: DB Schenker Rail has launched a freight service carrying road semi-trailers between Köln and the Çerkezköy freight terminal near Istanbul. The journey time is five to six days. The semi-trailer service follows the launch of DB Schenker Rail’s Germany – Turkey Bosporus Shuttle container and wagonload service in ...
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NewsRailpool orders Traxx locomotives
EUROPE: Leasing company Railpool has ordered 35 Bombardier Traxx locomotives with a list price of €135m for delivery in 2015-16, under a framework agreement which includes an option for up to 30 more which would take the value to €250m. Bombardier will also upgrade safety systems on the existing fleet. ...
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NewsSwap bodies to carry mail by rail
FRANCE: The post office announced on June 19 a three-year €100m investment programme that will see mail moving by rail in swap bodies from a new terminal to be built at Bonneuil-sur-Marne in the southeastern suburbs of Paris. Due to open towards the end of 2015 at a cost of ...
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NewsLiquefied gas wagon under development
EUROPE: Leasing company VTG and cryogenic liquid storage and transport specialist Chart Ferox are jointly developing two prototype wagons suitable for carrying liquefied natural gas by rail. It is envisaged that two wagons could replace four lorries or five tank containers on the roads, with insulation to permit storage times ...
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NewsTacna – Arica reopening studies
PERU: Government investment agency ProInversión has invited bids for a contract to undertake studies for reopening the 60 km railway that connects the city of Tacna with the port of Arica in Chile. Out of service since May 2012 due to poor track condition, the 1 435 mm gauge Tacna ...
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NewsOmniTRAX to manage Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad
USA: The Brownsville Navigation District authority which manages the port of Brownsville, Texas, has appointed regional and short line group OmniTRAX to manage the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad on its behalf. The deal runs for 30 years, and includes the development of an industrial park on adjacent land. ...
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NewsUnited Wagon Co to offer transport services
RUSSIA: United Wagon Co has established a subsidiary to offer freight transport services to the coal, metallurgical and chemical sectors using modern wagons produced at its Tikhvin plant. Vostok1520 is intended to complement the UWC group’s Tikhvin manufacturing and Rail1520 leasing activities. It is initially focusing on local routes within ...
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NewsAAE acquires majority stake in ZSSK Cargo wagon fleet
SLOVAKIA: European wagon leasing company AAE has been selected to acquire a majority stake in the Cargo Wagon fleet management subsidiary of state-owned freight operator ZSSK Cargo for €7m. In July 2013 the government approved a restructuring plan under which ZSSK Cargo is to concentrate on freight operations, with its ...
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NewsColas Rail and TNT test express rail logistics
UK: On the night of June 4-5, Colas Rail and TNT Express operated a trial freight train from Rugby to London Euston, carrying express parcels and perishable products for distribution in central London. Organised by consultancy Intermodality, the train was intended to demonstrate the feasibility of using rail for ‘high-speed, ...
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NewsGreenbrier and Watco to combine wagon maintenance activities
USA: Wagon manufacturer The Greenbrier Companies and short line and wagon repair group Watco are to combine their wagon repair, refurbishment and maintenance workshops through the formation of an equally-owned joint venture to be known as GBW Railcar Services. Announcing the plan on June 4, the companies said the ...
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NewsDB Schenker Rail opens European control centre
EUROPE: As part of its transition from being a German rail freight operator to a ‘truly European’ business, DB Schenker Rail inaugurated a new European Operations Centre in Frankfurt on June 2. At present, the company operates through 15 national companies, but its CEO Alexander Hedderich said the intention is ...