European freight operators with new cross-border services and partnerships.
Several European freight operators are expanding their services and partnerships to strengthen cross-border rail connectivity.
The ports of Hamburg and Vancouver have signed a cooperation agreement.
The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on key areas including decarbonization, safety and the development of the cruise industry.
KTZ is introducing an innovative system for high-precision diagnostics of railway tracks.
JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy presented the project “High-precision positioning of mobile diagnostic tools (MSD)”, aimed at improving traffic safety and optimizing infrastructure maintenance. Thanks to the new system, the accuracy of detecting faults on the tracks has been improved to one meter, which significantly reduces the time to eliminate them.
DHL Express and Shell launch green airfreight project in Brussels.
DHL Express has partnered with energy company Shell to supply 25,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Brussels Airport. Under the one-year contract, the SAF will be delivered via pipeline and used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes of CO₂e compared to conventional aviation fuel. The fuel is produced by replacing fossil oil with renewable feedstocks and is ISCC Plus certified.
Bertschi has started operations at the new AZT terminal in Antwerp.
Swiss intermodal chemical logistics specialist Bertschi has launched operations at the new Antwerp Zomerweg Terminal (AZT) in Belgium. The facility is focused on the storage of hazardous (DG) and non-hazardous products in tank containers using a trimodal service of rail, river and road.
Nordic Aviation Group has declared bankruptcy and ceased operations.
Estonian state-owned airline Nordic Aviation Group (NAG), which includes Nordica and Xfly, is ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy. The reason was the unsuccessful attempts to find an investor as part of the privatization initiated by the Estonian government in late 2023. The authorities had no strategic reasons to preserve Nordica, as the company provided exclusively outsourcing services.
PSA Antwerp and Combinant create integrated rail service.
PSA Antwerp and Combinant Rail Terminal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an integrated logistics service aimed at optimising the connection between PSA’s deepwater terminals and Combinant’s rail terminal in the Port of Antwerp. The project will reduce the use of road transport in favour of rail transport, improving intermodal solutions and increasing the sustainability of transport between the port and hinterland. The new service will connect PSA’s terminals with Combinant’s terminal, which in turn will provide access to important logistics hubs in Europe via a rail connection to Duisburg.
KTZ, L.A.C. Holding and Xi’an to build a terminal in Budapest.
JSC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the Hungarian company L.A.C. Holding and the Chinese Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co. signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of transport and logistics. The agreement was reached during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Hungary. The memorandum envisages the creation of a joint intermodal cargo terminal in Budapest.
HHLA: Strategic partnership for port development.
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA AG) will remain under the control of the city of Hamburg, with the new major shareholder – the world’s largest container shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – becoming a strategic partner in the development of the company. Following approvals from the Hamburg parliament, the European Commission and the Ukrainian antitrust authority, all conditions for completing the transaction have been met and it will be completed by the end of 2024.
PKP Intercity to modernise 150 carriages.
Polish national passenger transport operator PKP Intercity has signed three contracts with PKP Intercity subsidiary Remtrak worth a total of around PLN 1.5 billion (EUR 346 million) to modernise 150 carriages. The work will include upgrading 133 first and second class carriages, which will be fitted with new seats, sockets for charging devices, air conditioning, passenger information systems and fire safety systems. In addition, windows, doors and lighting are planned to be replaced.