Rail

JSC Azerbaijan Railways is actively implementing the construction of the strategically important Astara terminal in Iran as part of the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor. 85% of the design and 72.4% of the construction and installation works have already been completed. An 8.3 km railway line has been laid from the Astara station to the Iranian border and a bridge has been erected across the Astarachay River. Of the seven planned bridges, one is completely ready, and the rest are in the final stage (90% of the work has been completed).

In January–March 2025, 3.6 million tons of grain were transported via the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy network — a record figure over the past five years and 49% more than in the same period last year. Exports amounted to 2.8 million tons (+52%), domestic transportation — 788 thousand tons (+38%). A record was also set in March: 1.2 million tons of grain, which is 63% more than in March 2024.

Oltis Group has successfully implemented and launched its own K-module for digital data exchange with infrastructure operators according to the TAF/TAP TSI standard for one of the largest freight carriers – METRANS. The solution enables standardized communication between the carrier and infrastructure managers.

RB Rail AS has officially entered a month-long stage of negotiations with companies that submitted initial bids for the Design and Build (D&B) tender for the creation of the control and signalling subsystem (CCS) for the Rail Baltica project. The goal of the negotiations is to finalise the technical and financial proposals in order to select the optimal solution that meets the project requirements and the customer’s budget.

On April 4, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian company Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas Ēriks Diljevs, Head of Investment Development of RB Rail AS Pēteris Celms and Director of the contractor organization Bererix Guntis Āboltiņš-Āboliņš held a meeting with representatives of the Swiss company SSB Holdings Group. The possibilities of attracting financing under the public-private partnership (PPP) model for the Rail Baltica project, in particular, the Central Hub in Riga, were discussed.

In January-March 2025, 3.6 million tons of grain cargo were transported by rail in Kazakhstan – this is 49% more than in the same period last year, and is the highest figure in the past five years. Of this volume, 2.8 million tons were exported, which is 52% more than last year’s volumes.

Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) held a business meeting with representatives of Slovenian companies Actual IT Group, Riko, Kontron and SOP International, who arrived as part of the official visit of Slovenian President Nataša Pirc-Musar. The discussion focused on expanding cooperation in the transport and logistics sector, including the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

The Rail Connected program has introduced the “train composition” function, which aims to improve the exchange of information between carriers, railway operators and terminals through digitalization. This will significantly reduce the need for manual operations and increase the efficiency of transportation.

JSC NC KTZ has completed the integration of the automated freight transportation settlement management system with JSC Bank CenterCredit and JSC Freedom Bank Kazakhstan, and is also preparing to complete the integration with JSC ForteBank. This has become an important stage in the implementation of the Digital Kazakhstan program and is aimed at improving the quality and speed of financial transactions with clients.

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has introduced a new direct train connection between Vienna and Duisburg in Germany. The return journey will operate twice a week, strengthening intermodal flows between Austria and Germany.