Railways and the Russia-Ukraine war – Page 5
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Metro Report InternationalKyiv Metro seeks European help as it rejoins UITP
UKRAINE: Kyiv Metropoliten needs help from the western European transport industry to modernise its technology and operating practices, despite the conflict with Russia, the municipal transport operator’s Head of Metro Viktor Braginskyi told the IT-Trans conference in Karlsruhe on May 10. Reflecting on his experience of ...
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In depthComment: A force for good
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sadly reiterated the role that railways have played in armed conflict for more than 150 years. Nevertheless, the industry has rallied round to support both the Ukrainian railway sector and the people affected by the war, reflecting rail’s overwhelming influence as a force for good in modern society.
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NewsFinland’s VR begins terminating Russian rail freight contracts
EUROPE: Finland’s national train operator VR Group has begun the process of terminating its Russian cross-border freight contracts, with traffic expected to cease completely by the end of the year at the latest, and it is also looking to sell or liquidate its Russian freight joint ...
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NewsLithuania rethinks freight flows to bypass Belarus
EUROPE: Lithuania’s national freight operator LTG Cargo has sent a pilot container train to Ukraine via Poland, avoiding Belarus because of that country’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. LTG Cargo said the return working would be the first time in its history that freight ...
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NewsWar and cost increases delay Dutch electrification scheme
NETHERLANDS: ProRail has cancelled a tender for electrification of the Maaslijn between Nijmegen and Roermond, saying the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the increasing cost of materials and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the supply chain had forced it to reconsider its approach to upgrading ...
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NewsInvasion of Ukraine ‘has increased the geopolitical relevance of Rail Baltica’
EUROPE: ‘The Russian invasion of Ukraine reaffirms the need to connect the Baltic states to the rest of Europe’, said Catherine Trautmann, the European Commission’s co-ordinator for the North Sea – Baltic TEN-T corridor, on April 13, when Rail Baltica project promoter RB Rail set out ...
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NewsEU accelerates funding for military transport projects
EUROPE: The European Commission has brought forward the awarding of EU grants to co-fund projects to support military mobility, explaining that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the urgency of making Europe’s transport infrastructure fit for dual civilian and defence use. The first Military Mobility ...
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Rail Business UKUK industry sends humanitarian aid to Ukraine by rail
EUROPE: Cross-industry voluntary initiative UK Rail for Ukraine has sent more than 1 500 tonnes of donated aid including non-perishable food, hygiene and medical products to Ukraine by rail. The train departed from DB Cargo UK’s site at Barking in London on the morning of April ...
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NewsShipping group buys Russian Railways’ automotive logistics business
FRANCE: Marseille-based shipping conglomerate CMA CGM has acquired almost 100% of automotive and contract logistics specialist Gefco.
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News‘Controlled’ end to Finland – Russia rail freight traffic
FINLAND: National operator VR Group is to discontinue rail freight traffic with Russia ‘in a controlled manner’, the railway’s board decided on April 6. VR said it aimed to run down traffic as quickly as possible, although it expected that the process would take several months. ...
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NewsVR Group President & CEO removed
FINLAND: The board of state rail operator VR Group dismissed Lauri Sipponen as President & Chief Executive on April 4, just seven months into the job. Director of Passenger Operations Topi Simola has taken temporary charge while VR Group looks for a new CEO. No reason ...
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NewsUkraine to nationalise Russian-owned rolling stock
UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznytsia has begun the process of nationalising Russian-owned rolling stock in the country. The announcement came after the President of Ukraine signed a law setting out principles for the seizure of Russian property following the invasion. Ukrzaliznytsia is drawing up a list of ...
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NewsInternational rail organisations say ‘sovereignty, self-determination, independence and territorial integrity’ must be respected
UKRAINE: ‘We are firmly against the use of railways in armed conflicts’, the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail and the Organisation for Co‑Operation Between Railways said in a joint statement issued on March 21; it did not specifically mention Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ...
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NewsEuropean railways co-ordinate efforts to support Ukrainians
EUROPE: Railways are playing a key role in the flow of refugees out of Ukraine and the supply of aid into the country since it was invaded by Russia, and the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies says it is working closely with its members ...
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NewsNurminen Logistics plans Trans-Caspian route as Russia office closes
INTERNATIONAL: Finnish company Nurminen Logistics has closed its Russian office ‘for the time being’ and is developing a Trans-Caspian route from Asia to Europe as a result of ‘extensive changes in the operating environment’ since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nurminen’s import and export operations in Russia ...
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NewsPort of Duisburg pulls out of Belarus
BELARUS: German logistics group Duisburger Hafen AG announced on March 11 that it was ceasing all business activity in Belarus with immediate effect, because of the country’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Duisport will divest its 38·9% stake in Eurasian Rail Gateway which is ...
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NewsFlat wagons recalled to prevent use in invasion of Ukraine
EUROPE: Lithuania’s national freight operator LTG Cargo has stopped the leasing of its flat wagons and banned their transport to Russia or Belarus, out of concern that the governments could nationalise them and use them for military purposes as part of the invasion of Ukraine. LTG ...
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NewsAlstom suspends deliveries and investment in Russia
INTERNATIONAL: The suspension of deliveries to and future investments in Russia was announced by Alstom on March 9. The company said it would ‘obviously comply with all applicable sanctions and laws’ imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Alstom has a 20% stake in Transmashholding, the ...
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NewsUIC suspends companies from Russia and Belarus
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has suspended the membership of companies from Russia and Belarus which are under international sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. This includes Russian Railways. On March 8 UIC said it was committed to enabling international railway co-operation with the values ...
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NewsPolish industry calls for ’full and complete’ sanctions on Russian and Belarusian railways
EUROPE: Representatives of the Polish railway industry have issued a joint call for the European Commission to impose ‘full and complete’ sanctions on the Russian and Belarusian railways because of their logistical role in the invasion of Ukraine. The statement issued on March 3 is signed by ...