Norway: Infrastructure manager Bane Nor reports that freight traffic on the national network grew by 2% in 2022 to reach 9.2 billion gross tonne-km, up 2% from 9 billion gross tonne-km the year before. Compared with 2021, Bane Nor says the year-on-year increase was smaller in 2022, which was marked by Green Cargo withdrawing from the Norwegian market and its services from Oslo to Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger being taken over by OnRail and CargoNet.

Kazakhstan: In the first quarter of 2023 a total of 1588 freight trains travelling between China and Europe passed through the border crossing between Alashankou in China and Dostyk in Kazakhstan, up 10.35% on the year before. An average of 17 China - Europe trains a day are currently using this border crossing, compared with 3.5 trains per month in 2012.

Spain: National operator Renfe has joined Kombiverkehr and Duisport of Germany to bid for a contract that is being tendered by Adif to operate the La Llagosta intermodal terminal in Barcelona. The 85,200m2 terminal has four tracks for loading and unloading and five stabling tracks, all 740m long and laid with a third rail to accommodate 1435mm-gauge trains as well as 1668mm-gauge rolling stock. Renfe would hold 50% and its partners 25% each of the joint venture that would operate the terminal under a 20-year contract due to start in the first half of 2025.

United States: Logistics company Schneider National has awarded Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) a multi-year contract to move intermodal consignments between the US and Mexico. Schneider traffic will move to CPKC from mid-May, using the single-line intermodal service between Chicago and major destinations in Mexico which CPKC says will be more competitive with road haulage.

International: CN, Union Pacific and GMXT have created Falcon Premium, a new Mexico - United States - Canada intermodal service that will connect GMXT Mexican terminals at Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Silao with all CN origin ports in Canada and Detroit via Chicago. The service will operate between Silao and Eagle Pass, Texas, on UP infrastructure from Texas to Chicago, and use CN’s EJ&E bypass in Chicago to reach destinations in Canada. “Falcon Premium service is a game changer for intermodal customers,” says Ms Tracy Robinson, president and CEO of CN. “By leveraging each partner's best services and routes, we are creating a transformational new product.”

France: Shipping line CMA CGM Group has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire the transport and logistics activities of the Bolloré Group, which include an intermodal service operating by rail between Duisburg in Germany and Xian in China. CMA CGM stresses that the negotiations to acquire Bolloré Logistics do not guarantee that the acquisition will be finalised.

Poland: MW Trade has formed a new wagon leasing company, MW Rail, which will initially focus on the domestic market while intending to be active in Central and Eastern Europe. MW Trade holds 70% of the new company, while other investors include former PKP Cargo CEO, Mr Wojciech Balczun, who is also expected to assist the development of the wagon leasing business.

Spain: The Port of Marín in Galicia has awarded Thales a €2bn contract to supply a digital operations support manager for its 7km rail network, combining automated point control with signalling functions and based on a fibre optic communications system. Installation of the new system is due to take 15 months to complete, and is expected to deliver both safety and efficiency benefits by removing the need for points to be set manually.