Extending a partnership first launched in 2015, Swiss telematics specialist Savvy, GPS specialist ScandFibre Logistics and wagon leasing group Transwaggon have announced plans to equip a further 6 000 wagons with Savvy's CargoTrac data transmission tags, adding to the 3 000 already fitted. The partners have also extended their collaboration for a further five years.
Short line group Patriot Rail has announced a 'combination' with Diversified Port Holdings, which operates eight breakbulk, bulk, and heavy lift terminals and two container, roll-on/roll-off and lift-on/lift-off terminals on the US Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. 'In our day-to-day service delivery we noted customers increasingly seeking bundled port and rail solutions', said John Fenton, Patriot CEO and CEO of the unified company. 'In the past DPH and Patriot have partnered in providing these solutions to our customers. The combining of the businesses will enable us to further enhance service delivery for our customers and offer more value-add transportation'.
Belgian freight operator Lineas has extended its GreenXpress network of intensive wagonload services to include the Austrian cities of Graz and Wels. The service has been running to Wien since 2015, and Lineas believes the additional destinations will enable it to better target the automotive, paper making and chemicals industries. The Wels and Graz train is initially running twice a week from Antwerpen.
Peel Ports Group Strategic Projects Director Gary Hodgson told Railway Gazette on September 12 that the company was close to finalising a contract with the future operator of rail services from the Port of Liverpool to Daventry and Scotland. The aim is to commence movements of containers in the next three to four months. Terminal facilities and final road delivery would be provided by WH Malcolm at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal and Grangemouth, but it would be 'a Peel service', he stressed, with the port operator responsible for consolidating consignments.
On September 12 TMH subsidiary Transmash announced a 500m rouble contract to supply 200 Type 13-9744-06 container wagons to TransContainer by the end of the year.
On September 8, the national railways of Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of co-operation to form a joint venture to operate train ferry services on the Black Sea using UZ's ships Geroi Plevni and Geroi Shipki.
RZD Logistics and the Russian Export Centre launched an intermodal service on September 13 linking Vorsino in Russia with Chengdu via Mongolia. Focusing on 'non-resource exports', the initial outbound train of 41 40 ft containers carried baked goods for confectioner Obyedinennye Konditery. According to RZD Logistics, the timetable for the route has been designed to ensure no empty wagons are moved in either direction.