Kazakhstan has completed an upgrade and double-tracking of the 836 km line from Moyynty to Dostyk on the border with China. This ‘will increase freight traffic fivefold’, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on September 30. ‘Delivery times for export goods will be reduced and transit capacity will be strengthened. Kazakhstan connects north and south, west and east. Five railway corridors pass through the country, opening the way to the world’s largest trading markets.’
Vollert has supplied a Rangier-Robot Pro BR 150 battery powered shunter to replace a diesel loco at the Carrière d’Arvel quarry in Switzerland, which features a harsh environment with dust and high humidity. ‘Shunting operations require frequent, gentle starts, precise shunting of just a few metres, and sometimes long periods of inactivity’, said Michael Spohn, Senior Sales Manager in the Shunting Systems division at Vollert. ‘Our self-sufficient shunting vehicles are optimally designed for this, in contrast to main line locomotives.’
Wagon and containerised freight technology developer Innofreight has commissioned PJ Messtechnik to carry out approvals testing for its Y25 bogie, which is 5% lighter than conventional designs, manufactured fully automatically and designed to withstand dynamic loads over four decades. The testing includes structural analysis using the latest simulation methods, static and fatigue laboratory tests at the Institute for Structural Durability and Railway Technology at Graz University of Technology, and track tests under extreme conditions.
Alstom has signed a letter of intent with DB Cargo Polska to establish a modern locomotive servicing centre in Rybnik. This would complement the existing centre in Toruń where Alstom maintains Traxx locomotives. ‘Operators in the region are increasingly investing in modern, energy-efficient rolling stock. This, in turn, is driving growing demand for comprehensive service solutions’, said Beata Rusinowicz, Managing Director of Alstom in Poland, on September 25.
On 1 January 1 2026 Kombiverkehr Group will takeover from DUSS as the operator of PKV’s 85 000 m2 Duisburg-Ruhrort Hafen terminal, which will operate under the name Rail Hub Duisburg. ‘More than 20 countries can be reached by rail from Duisburg. This makes the continental terminal in the port of Ruhrort an important gateway hub in our European network’, said Kombiverkehr Managing Director Heiko Krebs. ’We currently account for around 95% of traffic. In future, we will be able to contribute our expertise in operations much more directly than was previously the case, and of course non-discriminatory access to the terminal infrastructure will continue to be guaranteed for third parties.‘
The International Transport Forum has published its Enhancing the Connectivity, Sustainability & Resilience of Regional Freight Transport in Central Asia report, assessing regional freight transport infrastructure projects and policy pathways in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. ITF’s global freight transport model predicts that demand will almost double in Central Asia by 2050, placing considerable strain on infrastructure and service quality while contributing to rising carbon emissions. The report’s recommendations are grouped as enhancing regional connectivity, accelerating decarbonisation and strengthening resilience.
The Central Farm Service farmer-owned co-operative in Minnesota and Iowa has announced its support for the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. CFS said ‘currently, a load of corn or soybeans from Minnesota might switch carriers en route to the southeast or east coast, adding complexity and days of transit, which ultimately make for less trade on those routes. With Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern combined, that same load can move end-to-end on one railroad, arriving at feed mills or processing plants with fewer handoffs and lower risk of delay.’
Jeroen Eijsink took over as CEO of Hamburger Hafen & Logistik on October 1. He has more than 25 years of international experience in the logistics and transport industry, having started his career at Siemens and held roles at Deutsche Post DHL, CH Robinson and Girteka Group. Marcus Vitt has succeeded Rüdiger Grube as Chair of the supervisory board.
