The Mošnov intermodal terminal near Ostrava was officially opened on October 18 by joint operators Innofreight, Medlog, Budamar Logistics and ČD Cargo Logistics. Built by contractor Concerns in a year, the terminal has six tracks between 655 and 723 m long and 3 kV electrification. It can handle ISO containers, swap bodies and semi-trailers, with reach stackers able to reload eight block trains per day; portal cranes are planned.
Kazakhstan’s national Industry Development Fund has financed an order by Maslo-Del for 130 insulated wagons which will be used to transport perishable food products. The wagons will be manufactured at the Cool Infinity plant, which was launched in 2018 and is now able to produce 300 Type 16-1881 refrigerated cars and 16-1807-04 isothermal cars per year. The wagons will be equipped with temperature control sensors and GPS, with the manufacturer guaranteeing a constant temperature for 10 days after loading.
Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded Siemens Rail Automation and FCC Industrial e Infraestructuras Energéticas a 26-month, €17·4m contract to install train protection and communications infrastructure at the La Llagosta intermodal logistics centre near Barcelona.
CN moved more than 806 000 tonnes of grain from western Canada during the week of October 16, week 12 of the 2022-23 crop year, exceeding its previous record by over 50 000 tonnes. This follows CN’s second best September ever for grain movement from western Canada, with over 2·64 million tonnes moved.
Spain’s government is making €436m available from the EU’s recovery and resilience funds to co-finance €1·23bn of investments by 69 companies, most of which are involved in rail freight activities, to assist in reducing their CO2 footprint and increase digitalisation. This includes the acquisition of 59 electric locomotives, 1 932 wagons, the installation of onboard ETCS in 73 locomotives, the replacement of brake shoes on 4 155 wagons and the design, construction and testing of a prototype locomotive which can automatically change gauge.
XPO Logistics is working with Malcolm Logistics to transport plastic pipe maker Wavin’s products by road from a production site in Chippenham to Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal and then by rail to Grangemouth for onward delivery by truck. The service is to run five days per week, with up to six containers transported daily.
Belgium’s government has approved an action plan which aims to double rail freight volumes by 2030. It includes 26 measures to remove infrastructure bottlenecks, improve technology, facilitate international traffic and accommodate 740 m trains by the end of 2027.
