On 5 August, the first of the HOA hopper wagons built for VTG by Greenbrier in Poland arrived at Whately station. These new HOA hopper wagons will replace the ageing LTF and O&K JHA models that have been in service with Mendip Rail for almost 35 years. The remainder of the order will be completed and delivered by May 2025.
Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev and Hong Kong Legislative Council Representative Frankie Ik Chi-ming held talks in Astana, focusing on developing cooperation in the field of transport and logistics. They discussed the prospects for partnership between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, as well as the exchange of experience in implementing advanced technologies in the transport industry.
The Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, made important statements for the media after the negotiations and the meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council. The main focus of the meeting was on the development of new projects in industry, as well as cooperation in the transport and logistics sector.
In early July, SIA Kronospan Riga, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of wood-based panels, completed the acquisition of the KS Terminal Ltd cargo terminal in the Port of Riga, becoming the sole owner of the company. This acquisition will strengthen Kronospan’s position in Northern Europe and create new strategic opportunities for the terminal’s growth.
The transport ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Astana ahead of the VI Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. During the talks, the issues of developing transit corridors, rail and road transport, as well as air traffic, were discussed. Particular attention was paid to strengthening transport connectivity through the construction of new roads and expansion of air traffic.
PSA International, through its subsidiary PSA Baltics N.V., has acquired 85% of the shares of the Polish intermodal operator Loconi International S.A. from ATC Cargo S.A. The transaction will allow PSA to develop new rail routes, expanding the capacity of European container hubs and offering customers an alternative to road transport.
In Lithuania, a batch of export grain was delivered to the port of Klaipeda along the Neman River for the first time. The barge, which carried a thousand tons of grain, departed from the Jurbarkas river port, which was an important step in the development of water transport in the country.
The new TransFER Salzburg–Augsburg railway line, launched by ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG), connects Austria with southern Germany and creates a key connection for the entire Central and South-Eastern region of Europe.
Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov discussed the expansion of cooperation in the transport sector. The main focus was on increasing the volume of cargo transportation and simplifying transit procedures for cargo and passengers.
In July 2024, contractor Rizzani de Eccher began a new stage of construction of the Rail Baltica bridge over the Neris River near Jonava, delivering steel sheet piles to the site. These works will create a temporary protective perimeter, which will allow for the safe installation of the bridge supports. Once the work is completed, the perimeter will be dismantled.
