Freight news – Page 144
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NewsArrowedge aims to cut fuel use
USA: Union Pacific has begun testing Arrowedge, a device designed to reduce fuel consumption by improving the aerodynamics of double-stack intermodal trains. The first wagon of the train is loaded with one container, with the 14·6 m (48 ft) Arrowedge sitting on top. Its tapered body improves air flow around ...
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NewsFremantle Port rail expansion contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: York Civil was awarded a contract to extend the North Quay Rail Terminal at Fremantle Port near Perth on October 23. The A$31m project is funded by the central government, which is contributing A$18·6m, and the state of Western Australia, which is providing A$12·4m. The work will extend ...
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NewsFuture EU transport infrastructure policy to focus on TEN-T corridors
EUROPE: The European Commission has announced details of ‘the most radical overhaul of EU infrastructure policy since its inception in the 1980s’, setting out plans to shift the focus of future transport infrastructure investment from individual projects to nine defined trans-European corridors. This focus on major corridors announced on October ...
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NewsZSSK Cargo seeks partners
SLOVAKIA: National freight operator ZSSK Cargo has invited expressions interest in acquiring stakes in two of the three subsidiaries which are to be established under the reform plan which the government approved in July. ZSSK Cargo is to become purely an operating company, 100% state owned but holding stakes in ...
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NewsCSX energy efficiency studies
USA: An MBA student at the Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary, Virginia, has undertaken a range of energy efficiency studies for US Class I railway CSX in his role with the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps. Hanyan Wu focused on the installation of ...
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NewsUganda's Northern Line revived
UGANDA: Rift Valley Railways has reopened the Northern Line, which runs for 500 km from the Kampala - Mombasa route at Tororo Junction to Gulu and Pakwach. As well as improving transport links to northern Uganda, the line provides a regional railhead for South Sudan and eastern DR Congo. ...
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NewsPKP Cargo privatisation details announced
POLAND: National freight operator PKP Cargo has announced details of its forthcoming floatation. An initial public offering on the Warszawa Stock Exchange is planned, with book building to end on October 22 and trading to start on October 31. An IPO has been chosen to enable the state to retain ...
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NewsKiwiRail places third order for CNR Dalian locomotives
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail awarded CNR Dalian a contract to supply a further eight Class DL diesel locomotives last month, taking its total order to 48. 'We have been very pleased with the performance of these locomotives to date and they are proving their worth on our North Island freight routes', ...
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NewsIcahn Enterprises forms wagon leasing joint venture
USA: Icahn Enterprises and its Chairman Carl Icahn announced an agreement to a form a wagon leasing joint venture, American Railcar Leasing (New ARL), on September 25. IEP is to contribute cash and wagons worth $737m in exchange for a 75% stake in New ARL, and is expecting to generate ...
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NewsKuehne + Nagel and VTG agree rail logistics merger
EUROPE: Wagon leasing and rail transport group VTG and sea, air and overland logistics company Kuehne + Nagel signed an agreement to merge their rail logistics operations to create 'Europe's largest private rail logistics provider' on September 27. This follows a letter of intent signed in April. Subject to ...
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NewsCN to take over Kelowna Pacific Railway operations
CANADA: CN has announced agreements to restart freight services in southern British Columbia which ceased when Kelowna Pacific Railway Ltd entered receivership on July 5. The short line had leased the network from CN in 1999. On September 27 CN said it had reached 'mutually satisfactory' agreements with Kelowna Pacific ...
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NewsGovernment approves RENFE restructuring
SPAIN: Plans to restructure RENFE as four companies responsible for passenger operations, freight, rolling stock maintenance and train leasing were approved by the Spanish cabinet on September 27, having previously been approved by the RENFE board. The four new companies will be structured as 100%-owned subsidiaries of holding company RENFE ...
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NewsEtihad Rail test running begins
UAE: The first test train on the initial phase of the national railway network which is being developed by Etihad Rail ran on September 22. Two trains will run in each direction per day during the three-month commissioning period. Each train comprises up to three of the seven SD70ACS locomotives ...
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NewsGATX sells stake in AAE Cargo
SWITZERLAND: Chicago-based leasing company GATX Corp sold its 37·5% stake in European wagon owner AAE Ahaus Alstätter Eisenbahn Cargo to its partner AAE Ahaus Alstätter Eisenbahn Holding on September 26. The sale price of €84·5m comprised €17·0m in cash and a €67·5m secured loan to AAE Holding. As a result ...
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NewsSaudi Railway Company seeks operating concessionaire
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Railway Company has invited expressions of interest for a concession to maintain and operate the North-South Railway, under a tendering process being supported by management consultancy A T Kearney. SAR is looking for national and 'world-class' international companies to take responsibility for train operations, infrastructure management and ...
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NewsShip diversion prompts first train from London Gateway
UK: DB Schenker Rail (UK) operated the first intermodal train from the new London Gateway port on the Thames estuary at 02.00 on September 24, carrying containers to its Trafford Park terminal. The containers had been discharged from the ship ZIM Rotterdam, which arrived at the port on September 13 ...
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NewsMore lorries to move by rail
FRANCE: On September 18 Transport Minister Frédéric Cuvillier announced the creation of two new ‘rail motorway’ services to carry lorry trailers. In his presence, SNCF Geodis Managing Director Alain Picard and Lohr SA President Robert Lohr signed a contract worth €39m for the supply of 102 Modalohr swing-tray wagons that ...
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NewsThree expressions of interest in Greek rail privatisation
GREECE: Three expressions of interest in the purchase of a 100% stake in national train operator Trainose were submitted by the September 16 deadline, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund privatisation agency has announced. The companies involved were not disclosed by HRADF, but local media has named them as French ...
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NewsMulti-faced approach is key to maximising rail capacity
INTERNATIONAL: Making best use of capacity on key corridors requires all stakeholders to work together, and address the issue from a ‘systems’ perspective, according to Stefan Wendel, Programme Director for European rail freight Corridor 1 linking Rotterdam and Genova. Speaking in the Railway Gazette TV interactive debate The Capacity Challenge ...
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NewsDRS orders 10 electro-diesel locomotives from Vossloh
UK: Freight operator Direct Rail Services has become the launch customer for Vossloh España’s dual-mode locomotive design, ordering 10 locomotives to be designated Class 88. Financed by leasing company Beacon Rail, the Class 88 fleet would be capable of electric operation from a 25 kV 50 Hz overhead supply or ...