Europe

Lineas and FS Logistix officially opened the Modalink joint venture at the Antwerp Mainhub terminal, where the new operator will manage terminal infrastructure and develop intermodal services between the Port of Antwerp and European destinations. The grand opening was attended by representatives of the Italian and Belgian governments, company management, and key partners, underscoring the project’s strategic importance.

Laude Smart Intermodal and Loconi Intermodal SA, together with PKP LHS, have launched a regular intermodal service for Maersk from the Baltic Hub terminal in Gdansk to Ukraine. The key logistics link on the route is Laude’s terminal in Zamość, located on the LHS broad-gauge line, enabling direct connections between Polish and Ukrainian infrastructure.

The company achieved an operating profit of PLN 90.8 million (approx. EUR 20.7 million) and closed the period with a net loss of PLN 10.4 million (about EUR 2.4 million). This is a major shift compared with the same period in 2024, when both operating and net results were close to minus PLN 800 million (around EUR 182.4 million).

Lineas, the largest private freight rail operator in Europe, and Railpool, one of Europe’s leading locomotive leasing companies, have extended their partnership for another six years. Under the renewed agreement, Lineas will continue to operate 33 electric locomotives from Railpool’s fleet, maintaining their current capacity and gaining the option to lease additional or new locomotive types in the future to meet changing shipper demands.

The Territorial Commission of Catalonia has approved the urban development plan for the Intermodal Logistics Terminal (PDU) at the Port of Barcelona, ​​paving the way for the construction of a new southern rail hub. The project is estimated to cost €265 million, of which €26 million will be allocated to creating green spaces. The hub’s infrastructure includes a rolling road terminal and a loading terminal, which will significantly increase the handling of freight moving from road to rail.

Ellerman City Liners has introduced a new weekly short-haul service, iPEX 3, directly connecting Gdynia, Poland, with Bilbao, Spain. This service is designed to meet the growing needs of European trade and offers customers the fastest transit times, operating through congestion-free ports and ensuring seamless cargo handling.

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding its TransFER network with two new fixed-timetable freight connections. The new services focus on strengthening logistics routes across Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe while creating additional intermodal options at key hubs.

Maersk announced that it is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the possible resumption of transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal amid progress in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, emphasizing the priority of the safety of crews, fleet, and cargo. The company also reminded customers of key changes: the Emergency Contingency Surcharge for shipments from Oceania to Europe will end on December 15, 2025, and updated demurrage and detention rates in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing a new 45-hectare site with an 835-meter berth, capable of accommodating the latest offshore wind turbine installation vessels. The infrastructure will be adapted for jack-up vessels, on-site assembly operations, and will also include its own RO-RO facility, allowing for servicing of all types of transport. The terminal is designed not only for the installation of offshore wind farms but also for their subsequent dismantling.

In its autumn macroeconomic forecast, the European Commission raised its global economic growth estimate for 2025 from 2.9% to 3.1% (up from 3.3% in 2024). Expectations for 2026 have also been improved to 3.1%, while for 2027 they remain at 3.2%. However, the regulator emphasizes that the global economic outlook remains “highly uncertain.”