Rail Baltica, Europe’s largest railway project connecting Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the European rail network, is one of six key megaprojects of the EU transport network. Other major projects include the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel between Germany and Denmark, and the Brenner Base Tunnel linking Austria and Italy across the Alps.
Every year, strengthening works are carried out on the Khorgos River to prevent possible threats from floods and adverse weather conditions. Key infrastructure facilities, including railway and road bridges, as well as the Khorgos ICBC, are at risk. As a result of extreme heat, alternating with showers, the condition of the river is constantly monitored.
The Contargo Rhein-Main terminal in Koblenz has been expanded, increasing its area and capacity for trimodal cargo handling. Port infrastructure operator Stadtwerke Koblenz invested in the expansion of the terminal, increasing its area by 4,660 m² to 21,000 m². This made it possible to add a 1,000 TEU depot, giving the terminal a total capacity of 4,200 TEU.
From January to August 2024, Ukrainian seaports handled 66.8 million tons of cargo, which is significantly higher than the figures for the same period last year. In 2023, this figure was 37.7 million tons, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported.
During the complete closure of the Rhine Valley Railway in August 2024, a diesel shuttle service on the left bank of the Rhine proved to be a successful alternative. Around 20 freight trains per day ran through Alsace on the non-electrified route Wörth-Lotherbourg-Strasbourg-Offenburg. The project, supported by SBB Cargo International, Captrain France, DB InfraGo and SNCF Reseau, helped maintain the stability of combined transport on the north-south axis despite capacity constraints at the transfer points.
Political scientist Eduard Poletaev shared his opinion on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), emphasizing its role as an alternative to the land route “China – Europe”. In the current geopolitical situation, countries understand the importance of diversifying logistics routes and partners. Kazakhstan, according to him, is actively developing its transport infrastructure, seeking to increase transit revenues.
The first freight trains will start running on a new rail route between Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Crailsheim (Germany) from September. The route improves ECS’s logistics network, offering convenient connections to the UK and Ireland via existing rail and shipping lines. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Lineas, the largest private rail operator in Europe.
The Government of Kazakhstan has reported on the progress in implementing the Roadmap for the Development of the Middle Corridor, which connects Kazakhstan with Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia. It is planned to increase the throughput capacity to 10 million tons of cargo per year by 2027. This initiative was a response to the Address of the President of Kazakhstan to the Nation on the modernization of the economy.
Kedentransservice JSC will participate in the creation of a joint venture for the organization of multimodal transportation in the port of Alyat (Azerbaijan). At a meeting in Baku with the participation of Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd and BMMTP CJSC, the details of the project for the creation of an intermodal terminal in the port and the formation of a partner enterprise for the development of cargo transportation were discussed.
At the end of July and beginning of August, the ports of Riga began to receive and load local grain of the new harvest, the terminal management reports. More than 10 ships with rapeseed and 3 bulk carriers with wheat have already been dispatched. This year, Riga is actively receiving grain from both Latvian and Lithuanian farmers, although record export volumes are not expected.
