Rail

The updated cost-benefit analysis confirms the economic viability of the Rail Baltica project, expecting it to generate a net economic benefit of €6.6 billion. The additional indirect impact is estimated to range from €15.5 billion to €23.5 billion, including aspects such as military mobility, environmental sustainability, social equity and supply chain impacts. The project has evolved significantly since the last review in 2017, including new stations and infrastructure elements in Lithuania. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a 40% rise in inflation have also impacted the cost of the project, which is now estimated at €15.3 billion for completion by 2030.

JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Huawei Technologies Kazakhstan completed the first stage of modernization of data networks by introducing SD-WAN technology. This technology connects the main office in Astana with 16 of the largest railway departments in Kazakhstan, providing centralized monitoring of the status of network devices and communication channels, high performance and optimal routing of services.

Ctirad Klimanek, Managing Partner of RAILVIS.com, shared the idea that in the field of European rail logistics, several exemplary models and innovative approaches set benchmarks for the development of the industry. For example, Italy stands out for its regional policy requiring rail connections for warehouses, thereby significantly increasing intermodal transport volumes.

Increasing traffic density in the Antwerp port area is causing increasing problems. Lineas’ LORO (Left Bank – Right Bank) line offers a turnkey solution to current congestion problems.

KTZ Express, a subsidiary of NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC, and the Romanian company CFR Marfa entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation. A meeting of representatives of the two companies took place in Astana, where joint projects in the transport and logistics sector were discussed.

Mark Jansen, CEO of Hupac NV, began his speech by introducing his company. Hupac NV, covering 130 intermodal trains daily, operates traditional “Red Line” intermodal routes tailored to the needs of road transport, as well as “Blue Line” maritime routes operated by their subsidiary ERS, with a focus on key ports such as Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Rotterdam. Despite challenges such as the economic downturn and infrastructure failures such as the closure of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, HUPAC remains resilient.

The Lithuanian government has approved an infrastructure development plan for the Rail Baltica section from Jesia (Kaunas) to the border with Poland. As part of this project, procedures for the purchase of land for public needs will also begin. The new double-track European railway will be built along the Alternative 6A route, approved in 2022 after active public discussions. This route is the shortest and farthest from urban areas.

In the first five months of this year, rail traffic between Kazakhstan and China increased by 12%, reaching 12.8 million tons, compared to the same period last year.

KTZ Express held important negotiations with China Railway International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. (CRIFF) and one of the leading logistics platforms in Jiangsu Province – Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Province plays a key role in logistics, providing 15% of China’s total industry and 3% of global industry.

Liliana Krutonog, CEO of MALBI-trans s.r.o., presented a company headquartered in the Czech Republic, which has strong ties with the Czech Railways and makes extensive use of their facilities and terminals. They work closely with the Czech Cargo Group and Czech Logistics, helping to promote their activities in Central Asia and China. The company specializes in various transport services, with a particular focus on intermodal solutions such as block trains, individual containers and groups of containers. In addition, they carry out railcar transport, including recent successful projects such as a system train from the Czech Republic to Ukraine for construction materials with return shipment of grain from Ukraine.