Polish rail infrastructure manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK), and the Port of Gdańsk Authority have signed a cooperation agreement to begin work on expanding rail and road access to the deepwater terminals located on the port island in Gdańsk’s Northern Port.
Infrastructure company LTG Infra (LTG Group) has extended its agreement with Polish infrastructure manager PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. to provide assistance in the event of accidents on the European 1435 mm gauge railway. The agreement provides for the prompt deployment of Polish equipment and specialists to support Lithuania, enhancing infrastructure reliability and trust between the countries. According to LTG Group CEO Egidijus Lazauskas, the cooperation ensures the continuity of the strategically important railway connection and strengthens the joint preparedness of both parties.
Road freight rates edge up — narrowing the gap with rail
The Port of Zeebrugge welcomed the container ship MSC San Francisco, with a record draft of 16.80 meters, which berthed at the CSP Zeebrugge terminal. The 366-meter-long, 16,196-TEU vessel arrived from Colombo and is operating on the LION service, which provides direct connections to the Far East via Zeebrugge and then Antwerp.
ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding its logistics network between Europe and Turkey, where the country is becoming a key link in the Middle Corridor connecting Europe, Central Asia, and China. The route provides a stable and faster alternative to sea and air freight, and Turkey serves as a key logistics hub for the Eurasian market.
ZIM shipping line announced the restoration of its LBX service, the only direct container route between Ukraine and Israel. The resumption of the service will be a significant event for the market and will strengthen trade ties between the two countries.
Polish intermodal carrier Laude Smart Intermodal has launched a new connection between Turkey and the EU via Ukraine. The first train of 50 specialized Laude containers departed from the port of Chornomorsk on November 5 with the participation of Ukrzaliznytsia, marking the beginning of a regular route from the Izmir region (port of Aliaga) to Poland with a reduced delivery time of 10 days.
The AsstrA Group has strengthened its intermodal services by launching regular services between Poland and key markets in Southern and Western Europe, including Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The new product combines rail and road transport into a single service, reducing delivery times, costs, and the company’s environmental footprint.
Samskip has launched a new direct shortsea route linking Agadir and Casablanca with ports in the UK and the Netherlands, significantly simplifying the export of Moroccan produce to Europe. Weekly services are designed to transport fresh fruits and vegetables, automotive components, chemicals, and other cargo, with subsequent multimodal connections throughout Europe.
Leading companies and industry associations have joined forces in the Save Combined Transport initiative, declaring the critical state of rail freight transport. The initiative was prompted by an open letter to Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schneider and DB management, which states that disruptions on the railway undermine the foundations of sustainable and efficient logistics and lead to long-term consequences for the economy and climate.
