Rail

Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd., led by President Hiroyuki Okamoto, has launched a new rail transport service connecting Hanoi, Vietnam to Europe. This service leverages the China-Vietnam freight trains and the China-Europe Railway Express to enhance cross-border transport between ASEAN countries and Europe. Cargo is transported from Hanoi to Chongqing, China, and then forwarded to Europe, with the logistics company managing all aspects of the shipment, including collection, customs clearance, and final delivery. Notably, Yusen Logistics operates a significant logistics center in Duisburg, Germany, facilitating efficient distribution across Europe.

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is relocating its high-frequency TransFER service between Hungary and Germany from Neuss to Duisburg. Duisburg and Budapest are critical hubs for European rail freight, with Budapest serving as a major conduit for the Southern and South-Eastern European markets through the BILK terminal. This terminal facilitates connections not only to Western Europe but also to Eurasia, enhancing Budapest’s strategic importance in Central Europe.

A ceremony was held in Beijing to sign an intergovernmental agreement on the project for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The heads of state took part in the event via video link, emphasizing the strategic importance of the new highway for strengthening China’s transport links with Central Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

During the recent “China (Hubei) and Germany Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference,” InterRail Europe and Hubei Port Group Co. Ltd. formalized their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement aims to leverage the strengths of both entities in rail freight transportation and port services.

At a conference call chaired by General Director Vladimir Petrov, key aspects of the activities of KTZ-Freight Transportation LLP were discussed.

A regular meeting of the Logistics and Transportation Committee was held via videoconference, where the draft Program for the Development of Railway Transport in Kazakhstan until 2029 was discussed.

On the Dostyk-Moyynty section, construction of second tracks is underway according to the established schedule. More than 450 units of special equipment are used at the site, where about a thousand workers work.

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG’s rail subsidiary, Metrans, has enlarged its hub terminal in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia, by approximately five hectares. This expansion provides customers with enhanced storage and transportation possibilities at one of Central Europe’s key intermodal hubs. The move comes as Metrans addresses the rising demand for storage and transport services in the region, offering a terminal area now spanning 326,000 m², equivalent to about 45 soccer fields. The additional 50,000 m² expansion area will primarily accommodate container repair and storage, complemented by the construction of a new container washing facility.

Marat Karabaev met with his Latvian colleague Kaspars Brishkens to sign a Memorandum on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. Discussion of the transport sector in Kazakhstan and Latvia revealed common points of view and development prospects.

Transport ministers from the D-A-CH region have united to endorse a joint position paper titled “The DAK is coming!” Led by Federal Minister for Mobility, Leonore Gewessler, the ministers from Germany and Switzerland underscore their commitment to swiftly implement the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) across borders. They also pledge national co-financing to support this initiative. Their appeal to the European Union emphasizes the need for a collective financing strategy that accommodates the diverse financial circumstances of European railway operators. Recognized as a pivotal advancement in modernizing and digitizing rail freight transport, the DAC aligns with the EU Green Deal’s objectives to combat climate change.