EP Logistics International (EPLI) has started operating the Central European Rail Express (CEREx), a new international rail freight service linking Germany with Central Europe and onward connections to the Balkans.
CargoBeamer, one of Europe’s leading operators of intermodal semi-trailer rail transport, has launched a new service between Liège (Belgium) and Domodossola (Italy). Operations on this route began last week. The new service marks CargoBeamer’s first foray into the Belgian market, which plays a key role in European road and air logistics, and strengthens the company’s transalpine intermodal offerings following the closure of the Rolling Highway service between Germany and Italy at the end of 2025.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications has approved the use of €46.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund for the implementation of the multimodal terminal project in Ruse. The total project cost is estimated at approximately €56.5 million. Construction is planned on the site of a former railway marshalling yard, near the area where a third bridge across the Danube is expected to be built, further strengthening the region’s transport role.
Shipping company CLdN announced the launch of a new weekly LoLo container service between the Rotterdam Distriport terminal and the port of Leixões (Porto), Portugal. This decision is in response to growing customer demand and aims to expand the company’s presence on the Atlantic route. The new service will complement the existing two weekly round-trip RoRo services between Rotterdam/Zeebrugge and Leixões.
According to the Vehicles on European Roads report, the EU road freight market continues to grow quantitatively, but does not meet Brussels’ climate and regulatory targets. By the end of 2024, there were 6.2 million medium and heavy trucks on EU roads, an increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Almost half of the total fleet is concentrated in Italy, Germany, and Poland, making these countries key for European road transport. However, the main issue remains not the number of vehicles, but their age and composition.
The Hamburg Port Authority, together with the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services and Kongsberg Maritime Germany GmbH, officially launched the iPORTUS research project, aimed at digitalizing and automating port operations. The project envisions the secure integration of semi-autonomous and remotely controlled low-emission ASVs into complex port environments. iPORTUS is being implemented with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, with approximately €1.7 million under the IHATEC II program.
A consortium comprising Spanish Ership, German shipping line Aug. Bolten, and Swiss Nova Marine acquired a stake in VCK Port Logistics, acquiring shares from VCK Group. VCK Group announced the deal on January 9. The new partnership also includes Verenigd Cargadoorskantoor and Waterland Terminal. All companies will operate under the management of the Dutch holding company Maja Stuwadoorsgroep, in which Ership and Aug. Bolten/Nova Marine already acquired stakes in February 2025.
By the end of 2025, Ukrainian seaports had fulfilled over 95% of their cargo transshipment plan, handling 82.2 million tons. This was announced by Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Communities and Territories Development, who emphasized the port industry’s resilience amid the ongoing war.
Starting in 2026, road haulers in several European countries will face increased road tolls, an expanded toll network, and a transition to new toll collection models. These changes will affect Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland, requiring transport companies to review tariffs, routes, and contract profitability. In many countries, CO₂ emissions will be a key factor in toll calculations, reflecting the pan-European commitment to decarbonizing transport.
Following the December peak in deliveries, the transport and logistics industry is entering a second, equally intense phase of the season – the period of mass returns. According to the Globkurier logistics platform, the volume of returned shipments in January is 25-30% higher than the monthly average. Moreover, over the past three years, the number of shipments classified as “return to sender” has increased by approximately 140%, indicating a stable structural trend associated with the growth of e-commerce.
