CMA CGM Logistics launched a new intermodal freight service on April 10 from London Gateway terminal via the Channel Tunnel to Duisburg, Germany, with connections to Poland and China.

FRANCE’s Ministry of Ecology and the Spanish Development Ministry have invited expressions of interest for the operation of new piggyback services to carry lorry semitrailers between the two countries.

ITALIAN State Railways (FS) rail freight subsidiary Mercitalia has unveiled plans to launch high-speed rail freight services in a bid to gain a share of the market for high-value time-sensitive goods.

POLAND’s largest rail freight operator PKP Cargo signed a Zlotys 388m ($US 113m) contract with Newag on April 4 for the modernisation of 60 Soviet-built SM48 diesel-electric heavy shunting locomotives.

SBB Cargo is set to trial Voith’s CargoFlex Type Scharfenberg automatic freight coupling on five wagons in mixed service beginning in January 2019.

RANDON Implementos, Brazil, inaugurated a new road trailer and railway wagon production facility at Araraquara in the state of São Paulo on March 28.

SWISS rail freight operator BLS Cargo achieved record turnover of SFr 203m ($US 213.6m) in 2017, a 6% increase compared with 2016, while net profits more than doubled from SFr 1.5m to SFr 3.5m.

INDIAN Railways (IR) celebrated a milestone in the construction of its 1534km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) on March 27, when a test train reached the maximum line speed of 100km/h for the first time.

THE Port of Rotterdam Authority has awarded a contract for the construction of a new freight line which will divert traffic away from the life-expired Caland vertical lift bridge.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) published its annual results on March 20, revealing an increase in income despite heavy losses in the struggling domestic rail freight market.