Ellerman City Liners announced the launch of its new short-sea container service, BALTEX, which directly connects the Baltic countries with the UK, Benelux, and Norway. This is the operator’s first route of this format in the region. The service operates on a fixed weekly schedule, calling at Riga (Latvia), Gdynia (Poland), Tispoor and Tilbury (UK), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Oslo (Norway).
The Turkish government has allocated 261.58 billion Turkish lira (approximately $6.04 billion) for the implementation of 91 railway projects in its 2026 investment program. The projects are divided among key industry bodies: 54 are overseen by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), 15 are managed by the national passenger and freight operator TCDD Taşımacılık, and another 22 projects are being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Some projects are scheduled for completion in 2026, while the rest are scheduled for completion by 2032.
Rail Baltic Estonia has launched a procurement procedure for the detailed design and construction of a rolling stock depot in Rae Parish. Bids will be accepted until March 10, 2026, with the contract signed by the end of April and construction completion scheduled for December 31, 2028. The estimated project cost is EUR 41.33 million excluding VAT. If the schedule is met, construction of the depot will begin in late 2026, and the facility will be handed over to Rail Baltic Estonia by the end of 2028.
The Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Group of Companies plans to invest approximately $15 billion by 2030 in developing transport and logistics infrastructure, modernizing production assets, and implementing modern digital and technological solutions. The investment program aims to increase the capacity of the railway network and prepare it for further growth in both domestic and transit freight traffic.
Starting in 2026, major regulatory changes will come into force in the European Union, directly affecting companies in the transport, freight forwarding, and logistics sectors involved in international trade. New requirements for import controls, export customs clearance, and CO₂ emissions accounting as part of the EU’s climate policy significantly complicate operations. Without timely technological and organizational preparation, businesses risk delays, increased costs, and loss of competitiveness.
Kazakhstan plans to complete the construction of several new railway lines and modernize key sections of the network this year. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev reported on the progress of the President’s instructions issued at the National Kurultai at a government meeting. He stated that the Kyzylzhar-Moiynty and Darbaza-Maktaaral lines will be commissioned in 2025, and the modernization of the Altynkol-Zhetygen and Zhezkazgan-Sekseul sections will be completed. At the same time, the reconstruction program for railway stations across the country will continue.
Romania is entering the final stage of the acquisition of Danube Logistics, the operator of the Port of Giurgiulesti in the Republic of Moldova. The buyer is the state-owned Constanta Sea Ports Authority, which reports to the Romanian Ministry of Transport. Currently, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the sole owner of Danube Logistics. The main objective of the transaction is to integrate the Port of Giurgiulesti into Romania’s logistics system, expand its capacity, and strengthen the region’s role in the Danube and Black Sea transport corridors.
Polish rail infrastructure operator Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of CARGOTOR from freight carrier PKP CARGO. The agreement is valued at 28.8 million Polish zlotys (approximately 6.8 million euros). The transaction was approved by the Polish Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) in January 2023.
Rhenus Group announced the acquisition of its first rail terminal in the Almaty region, strengthening its presence in Kazakhstan’s domestic logistics sector and on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The investment is part of the company’s long-term strategy to develop an integrated and reliable logistics infrastructure in Central Asia and expand its global service portfolio. The terminal is located at the Baiserke station near Almaty and operates under the name QAZContargo Almaty Ltd., providing direct access to national and international rail routes.
Intermodal rail freight transport in Europe is entering a new phase marked by selective growth rather than network-wide expansion. While the market has stabilised after a sharp downturn in 2023, structural constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery.
