SWISS intermodal operator Hupac is counting the cost of the reduced economic demand, disruptions to traffic on Switzerland's Gotthard Line, and high competitive pressures from road, which collectively contributed to a 10.7% decrease in lorry trailers and swapbodies carried last year to 646,214 units.

SNCF Geodis subsidiary Viia successfully operated a test train on Switzerland's Gotthard line on October 24 as part of its Transhelvetica project to carry semi-trailers with a 4m corner height across the Alps.

The semi-trailer market offers a huge growth potential for European intermodal operators providing height restrictions on key transalpine corridors can be overcome. Anitra Green reports on a technical innovation that could provide an answer.

SNCF Geodis subsidiary Viia formally presented its Viia Transhelvetica project for the transalpine transport of semi-trailers via the Gotthard line to the Swiss Federal Transport Office (BAV) in Bern on August 14.

GERMAN intermodal operator Kombiverkehr is to launch a new direct service from Verona to Kiel on October 7, which will connect with ferries to Sweden.

Following the successful introduction of a scheduled intermodal shuttle between Zürich Dietikon and Lausanne Renen at the beginning of this year, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) railfreight subsidiary SBB Cargo has announced plans to develop a national network of intermodal shuttles.

BRADO Logistics has signed two agreements that will support the expansion of its intermodal freight business in Brazil and Argentina.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) logistics subsidiary SNCF Geodis is planning a new piggyback service for semi-trailers between Germany and Switzerland.

SWISS intermodal operator Hupac and its Italian counterpart Cemat, together with Trenitalia, have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of future intermodal terminals in Milan, Brescia and Piacenza that will aid intermodal freight traffic in Northern Italy and on the Rotterdam - Genoa corridor.

ETIHAD Rail chairman HE Nasser Al Sowaidi and HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World, have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of an intermodal rail terminal at Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates.