GERMANY's railfreight industry has suffered a disappointing start to 2015, according to figures released by Germany's federal statistics agency Destatis on June 3, which show the largest decline in first quarter traffic since the height of the financial crisis.
GERMAN Rail (DB) recorded a 5.7% reduction in Ebit to €2.1bn in 2014 despite a 1.5% increase in total revenue to €39.7bn.
ETIHAD Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, has officially handed over the operations control centre in Mirfa to Etihad Rail DB, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and DB Schenker.
GERMANY's railfreight operators failed to capitalise on growth in the overall freight transport market last year as strikes held back volumes, according to preliminary annual figures released on February 13 by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis).
ITALIAN open-access railfreight operator Nordcargo has been rebranded DB Schenker Rail Italia, bringing it into line with other DB Schenker Rail subsidiaries outside Germany.
BLS, Switzerland, announced on January 6 that it has reached an agreement with German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Schweiz Holding, part of DB Schenker Rail, to buy back its 45% stake in BLS Cargo for an undisclosed sum.
SPANISH national train operator Renfe and German Rail (DB) subsidiary Transfesa are facing an investigation by Spanish competition authorities following evidence of a possible collusion agreement and abuse of a dominant position by the public company, which could be detrimental to other railfreight operators.
DB Schenker Rail UK, the British railfreight subsidiary of German Rail (DB), has announced plans to equip 90 EMD class 66 diesel locomotives with stop-start technology following a successful trial in southwest England.
Enhancement projects are underway along the Rhine corridor to upgrade rail infrastructure and terminal facilities, increasing capacity to meet the enormous growth in freight predicted at Rhine delta ports, Anitra Green reports from Germany.
DB SCHENKER and Zhengzhou International Land Port Development and Construction Company launched a new direct Germany – China freight service on September 1, when the first train was flagged off from the Billwerder terminal in Hamburg by Dr Karl-Friedrich Rausch, DB management board officer for logistics and the governor of Hunan province Mr Xie Fuzhan.