Etihad Rail has completed the rail connection between the future freight terminal at Industrial City of Abu Dhabi and Stage Two of the UAE’s national rail network. This ‘supports our efforts to encourage companies to restructure their logistical operations and opt for rail, thereby cutting costs, increasing efficiency and providing safer transport’, said Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of the Rail Relations Sector at Etihad Rail, on September 9. ‘This is exemplified by the trade agreements that we have made with some of the biggest companies in the UAE, such as Stevin Rock, Western Bainoona Group and Al Ghurair Iron & Steel.’
Metrans has worked with Omsan Logistics to launch a twice weekly container service between Dunajska Streda in Slovakia and Halkalı near Istanbul from September 3. Two days later, Metrans launched three trains a week between Ostrava in the Czech Republic and the DCT container terminal in Gdańsk. ‘We are connecting an increasing number of ports with our strategically positioned hub terminals for the transhipment of containers across Europe’, said CEO Peter Kiss. ‘More relations mean a more attractive service for our customers, operationally as well as in terms of costs.’
Kansas City Southern has announced KCS Certified Premier Sites, a programme for the development of larger terminals that are certified for rail services to reduce timelines by six to nine months. ‘Prospective shippers often need a quick turnaround from site selection to shovel ready. A KCS Premier Site saves time and money, because the site has already been carefully evaluated to ensure it has what shippers need for safe and reliable rail service’, said Chief Marketing Officer Mike Naatz.
VTG now offers its FastTrack container wagon booking service at the DUSS terminal in München-Riem. ‘The ability to make wagons available in München at short notice and with digital support helps us provide additional capacity to guarantee transport’, said Thomas Dittmann, Head of Digital Products. ’Besides being a very attractive service for our customers, this also plays a part in realising the transport and environmental policy goal of shifting freight off the roads.’
Robert Babcock has been named President & CEO of Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads from September 26. He was most recently General Manager of the Indiana Rail Road, and previously General Manager of the Baltimore, Louisville & Appalachian Divisions and Managing Director of Car Management at CSX Transportation, and Superintendent of Operations at BNSF. ‘He has both operational and commercial experience, and a long record of positive results, which makes him the ideal person to lead the next stage of our company’s growth’, said Nancy Bailey, Chair of LA&L which operates the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad, Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad and B&H Rail Corp.
Australian Rail Track Corp’s Moss Vale – Unanderra line in southern New South Wales is to reopen on October 4, having been closed since March 9 for repairs to earthworks damaged by heavy rain. ARTC worked with customers and Sydney Trains to develop a schedule for the South Coast line to carry additional diverted freight services, and liaised closely with grain growers and train operators.