Rail

After receiving approval from antitrust authorities, Contargo has officially become a new co-partner of the Dutch rail operator, DistriRail B.V. Previously, duisport and Van Donge & de Roo B.V. each held a 50 percent stake in DistriRail until January 1, 2024. Now, with equal distribution, Contargo, duisport, and Van Donge & de Roo B.V. each own one third of the shares. The management of the company will be a collaborative effort among all three partners, ensuring an independent board.

KTZ Express JSC successfully completed a road show in China, where productive negotiations took place with leading representatives of the transport and logistics industry, including CRIMT, China Logistics Group, Jiangsu International Rail Freight Express, Pinduoduo and Henan Zhongyu International Port Group. Agreements have been concluded on fruitful cooperation with CRIMT, Henan Zhongyu International Port Group and Pinduoduo, aimed at increasing cargo transportation through Kazakhstan, especially with a focus on TMTM, as well as beginning to integrate information systems to optimize logistics processes.

In Ankara, Türkiye, the Working Group and General Meeting of the “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route” (TITR) association convened on January 25-26, 2024. The meetings featured a comprehensive report highlighting the Association’s accomplishments in 2023, revealing a substantial increase in cargo volume, reaching 2.7 million tons—a notable 86% surge compared to 2022.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Infrabel are set to receive a EUR 23 million grant from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the revitalization of the Lillo Bridge. This financial support follows their application for European subsidies in September 2023, aimed at refurbishing the bridge and renewing the adjacent tracks. The European Commission’s announcement of the CEF grant underscores the strategic significance of the Lillo Bridge for facilitating seamless rail transport within the port area and the broader region.

The LTE-group is adapting to the changing dynamics in the transportation industry by venturing into rail logistics to distinguish itself from emerging competitors among container shipping companies. The conflict in Ukraine has reshaped supply chains, resulting in increased revenue for rail transport firms handling the transportation of grain, iron ore, alumina, and steel. Despite a positive trajectory with 13,000 trains and a sales volume of nearly 200 million euros, Mag. Andreas Mandl highlights the need for caution and emphasizes the underutilized potential of rail infrastructure.

On the China-Central Asia and China-Europe routes, the Tez Customs digital platform is being introduced for the automatic submission and issuance of transit declarations for goods transported along rail routes. The project is being implemented jointly by the State Revenue Committee, the national carrier Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Global DTC, a subsidiary of the global port operator PSA International.

During the meeting between the Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastaev and the Vice Minister of Communications, Railways and Maritime Affairs of Pakistan Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, prospects for cooperation in the railway and maritime transport sectors were discussed. Important topics included issues related to the holding of an intergovernmental commission, expert meetings and the upcoming visit of the Kazakh delegation to Pakistan in the first half of this year.

Latvian rail freight operator LDZ Cargo is making strategic moves to extend its business influence in the Baltic region. Recent successes include winning public tenders in Estonia, where the company secured contracts with the state-owned Estonian energy firm Enefit for the transportation of 100,000 tonnes of woodchips and 60,000 tonnes of petroleum. LDZ Cargo envisions this expansion as a crucial step towards consolidating the Latvian and Estonian rail transport markets, ultimately positioning itself as a carrier of regional significance.

Approximately 25 entities have thrown their hats into the ring for the acquisition of DB Schenker, with an international banking consortium overseeing the sale of the prominent German forwarder. While familiar contenders like Danish DSV and German DHL are among the identified bidders, the majority of participants remain undisclosed.

The Gelderland Rail Terminal (RTG) project in the Dutch province of Gelderland has faced a setback as no tenders were received for its construction and operation. Despite allowing interested parties to register for the project until the end of December 2023, the lack of contractor and operator interest remains unexplained. The Provincial Executive expresses disappointment and plans to assess the implications and alternative options, with further communication to the Provincial Council forthcoming.