Europe

In February, the first three remotely operated container cranes will be fully integrated into operations at the Altenwerder Container Terminal (CTA), part of the HHLA Group. By 2030, HHLA plans to replace all 14 cranes at CTA with highly automated models, with the next three units scheduled for delivery in April 2026. HHLA CEO Jeroen Eisink and Hamburg Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Social Affairs Melanie Leonhard reported on the current status of the project and the next stages of modernization at the terminal site.

The consultation collected responses from 91 entities active in rail freight, alongside dedicated questionnaires completed by PKP PLK and four organisations representing road transport. UTK states that this expanded scope allows for an intermodal assessment of freight transport in Poland rather than a rail-only diagnosis.

The European Court of Auditors has reviewed the implementation of eight major infrastructure megaprojects in 13 European countries that form the core of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). These include Rail Baltica, a European gauge railway, the Lyon-Turin Alpine Tunnel, the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Fehmarn Belt undersea tunnel between Germany and Denmark, and other key projects. Given the current geopolitical situation, the auditors emphasized that a unified EU transport network is critical for military mobility and resilience, and Rail Baltica plays a special role on Europe’s eastern flank.

By the end of 2025, cargo turnover at Latvia’s three largest ports – Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja – was 32.15 million tonnes, according to data published by the country’s Ministry of Economy. The port of Riga remained the largest with a volume of 16.75 million tonnes, followed by Ventspils with 8.53 million tonnes and Liepaja with 6.87 million tonnes. Latvian Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis emphasized that the transshipment of over 32 million tonnes of cargo confirms the port industry’s significant role in the country’s economy and foreign trade.

Euroports Inland Terminals, a leading Walloon inland terminal operator with an annual cargo throughput of approximately 5 million tonnes across 10 sites, announced the opening of a new facility: 3R-PORT Engis Terminal 1. The terminal is located on the Meuse River and serves the Walloon industrial corridor, providing direct connections for road, rail, and inland transport. The facility is part of the Liège port area, Belgium’s largest inland port and a key European logistics hub, connected to Antwerp via the Albert Canal and to Rotterdam via the Julian Canal.

DP World set a new record at London Gateway in 2025, exceeding the 3 million TEU mark. This growth was driven by the commissioning of a fourth berth and the expansion of vessel calls on Asia-Europe routes as part of the Gemini Cooperation alliance. Compared to 2024, when transhipment volume was 1.9 million TEU, the port’s container throughput increased by more than 52%, strengthening London Gateway’s position as one of the UK’s key container hubs.

PSA Intermodal Italy and Logtainer have won the tender to develop the intermodal terminal at Interporto Padova, following the conclusion of the selection process on 19 December 2025. The consortium submitted a financial offer of EUR 75m, above the tender’s base value of EUR 61m.

Ellerman City Liners announced the launch of its new short-sea container service, BALTEX, which directly connects the Baltic countries with the UK, Benelux, and Norway. This is the operator’s first route of this format in the region. The service operates on a fixed weekly schedule, calling at Riga (Latvia), Gdynia (Poland), Tispoor and Tilbury (UK), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Oslo (Norway).

The Turkish government has allocated 261.58 billion Turkish lira (approximately $6.04 billion) for the implementation of 91 railway projects in its 2026 investment program. The projects are divided among key industry bodies: 54 are overseen by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), 15 are managed by the national passenger and freight operator TCDD Taşımacılık, and another 22 projects are being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Some projects are scheduled for completion in 2026, while the rest are scheduled for completion by 2032.

Rail Baltic Estonia has launched a procurement procedure for the detailed design and construction of a rolling stock depot in Rae Parish. Bids will be accepted until March 10, 2026, with the contract signed by the end of April and construction completion scheduled for December 31, 2028. The estimated project cost is EUR 41.33 million excluding VAT. If the schedule is met, construction of the depot will begin in late 2026, and the facility will be handed over to Rail Baltic Estonia by the end of 2028.