RAIL freight in the Netherlands continued to make a strong recovery in 2015, according to statistics published by the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) on June 21, which show overall volumes increased by 7% compared with 2014 to 42 million tonnes.
VR Transpoint has launched a collaboration with Innofreight, Austria, to develop a new type of freight wagon, named Finnowagon, for rail logistics in Finland, the aim being to create a more flexible service for rail logistics customers.
SAUDI Arabia's minister of transport Mr Suleiman Al Hamdan has been appointed head of Saudi Railway Company (SAR), which the government has decreed will now become responsible for all new line construction projects.
With the handover of the Gotthard Base Tunnel to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) on June 1, this mammoth project has entered the final phase before the start of commercial services on December 11. Keith Barrow looks at how SBB is preparing for a smooth transition to the new infrastructure.
THE Pakistan government has approved a $US 8.2bn project to upgrade the 1872km Karachi - Peshawar main line by 2021, 85% of which will be funded by a concessionary loan from China the terms of which will now be negotiated.
CONSTRUCTION has started on the third and final section of the 27km Semmering Base Tunnel in Austria with work on the entire €3.3bn project now in full swing.
NORWEGIAN infrastructure manager Jernbanverket and its Swedish counterpart Trafikverket have agreed to work together to increase capacity on the Oslo - Gothenburg line following the completion of a joint study into options for future development of the route.
Björn Westerberg, CEO of the Association of Swedish Train Operating Companies tells Keith Barrow how a blend of short-term measures to improve operational performance and a long-term approach to investment will be needed to meet future demand on the country's rail network.
THE Gotthard Base Tunnel was inaugurated by the president of the Swiss Federation Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann and federal transport minister Mrs Doris Leuthard on June 1 with simultaneous ceremonies at the northern and southern portals of the world's longest main line railway tunnel.
THE European Court of Auditors says rail's market share of European Union (EU) freight has fallen since 2011 despite the EU contributing €28bn to rail projects between 2007 and 2013 and a concerted effort since 1992 to encourage a shift of freight from road to rail.