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Transport ministers from the D-A-CH region have united to endorse a joint position paper titled “The DAK is coming!” Led by Federal Minister for Mobility, Leonore Gewessler, the ministers from Germany and Switzerland underscore their commitment to swiftly implement the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) across borders. They also pledge national co-financing to support this initiative. Their appeal to the European Union emphasizes the need for a collective financing strategy that accommodates the diverse financial circumstances of European railway operators. Recognized as a pivotal advancement in modernizing and digitizing rail freight transport, the DAC aligns with the EU Green Deal’s objectives to combat climate change.

During the first four months of 2024, the volume of container traffic along the multimodal land-sea corridor ILSTC (International Land-Sea Trade Corridor) exceeded the 300 thousand TEU mark. This continues the growth trend that began in 2015, when the creation of ILSTC was launched as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Amid this development, ILSTC is emerging as a key transport bridge between China’s western regions and ASEAN countries, providing important trade links.

In Riga, the capital of Latvia, an official ceremony was held on May 21, 2024, marking the start of construction of the Rail Baltica high-speed rail line. Construction in Latvia will be led by the ERB Rail consortium, which includes leading European companies: Eiffage Génie Civil SAS (France), Budimex (Poland) and Rizzani de Eccher (Italy), with work coordinated by Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas. It is planned to lay 230 km of railway track, build 175 engineering structures, 11 crossings for wild animals, 81 road and 32 railway bridges, as well as 42 overpasses.

The signing of a memorandum on the development of the country between JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, PSA, KPMC Ltd and G-trans Service became a key event during the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Singapore. A document on the settlement of a strategic partnership between KTZ and the PSA, focused on the development of the transport and transit potential of Kazakhstan, aimed at the joint venture KPMC Ltd for the development of the trans-Caspian route.