Railcube: A Solution Made in EU for the US Market
Dutch‑based Railcube entered the U.S. railway market by acquiring Spark TS, adding contractor‑compliance capabilities to its platform. The solution monitors drug‑testing, alcohol testing and training compliance for contractors and sub‑contractors, a need heightened by recent fatal rail incidents. Built in Europe, the software is highly configurable, allowing railroads and large contractors to tailor KPIs, integrate with existing systems, and meet both federal and state regulations. This flexibility gives Railcube a competitive edge in a fragmented U.S. compliance landscape.
FS Logistix Launches North-South ‘Smart Train’ Pilot
Italian state‑owned freight operator FS Logistix has launched a ‘smart train’ pilot on the 1,000‑kilometre Milan‑Catania corridor. Approximately 700 intermodal wagons have been fitted with PJM’s WaggonTracker, delivering live data on brake performance, load stability, train composition and derailment detection....
‘Rail Freight Should Not Doubt Its Importance’, Says Port of Rotterdam COO
The Port of Rotterdam’s COO, Berte Simons, reaffirmed rail freight’s strategic role and announced major investments to accelerate a modal shift from road and barge. A new railway yard, Maasvlakte Zuid, is scheduled for completion in 2027 to serve the...
Spain Introduces Subsidy for Diesel Locomotives
Spain announced a €3.15 million (≈$3.4 million) subsidy scheme for diesel‑powered rail freight operators, running through 2026. The program pays €15,000 (≈$16,350) per active diesel locomotive to offset soaring fuel costs caused by the oil crisis linked to the war on Iran....
A Terminal in Southern Italy Will Reopen After Almost Two Decades
The Surbo rail freight terminal near Lecce, closed since 2009, will be put up for sale in July and is slated to resume operations by 2027. A survey of 61 regional companies revealed demand for up to 70 trains per...
Rising Fuel Prices Force Contract Terminations, but “No Large Crisis” (For CT)
Rising diesel prices, driven by the Strait of Hormuz closure, have prompted Slovak rail operator ŽS Cargo and Czech carrier ČD Cargo to terminate or amend contracts that involve individual shipments and diesel traction. Both firms cite fuel cost pressures as the...
Türkiye Rehabilitates Railway Towards Persian Gulf for Freight Operations
Turkey has completed a 350‑kilometre rehabilitation of railway lines along its Syrian border, including a 325‑km Karkamış‑Nusaybin segment and a 25‑km spur to Mardin. The upgraded tracks entered service on 31 March, forming a core segment of the Development Road project...
Will Europe Miss Out on Middle Corridor Opportunities?
The Middle Corridor, stretching from China through Central Asia to Europe, is gaining traction as a standalone market rather than merely a transit route. Beijing and Arab investors are pouring capital into warehouses, terminals, and new intermodal links, while European...
CargoBeamer Launches New Transalpine Intermodal Connection
CargoBeamer has launched a new trans‑Alpine intermodal service linking Stuttgart to Milan, operating four weekly round trips with a plan to increase to five. The route accommodates both craneable and non‑craneable semi‑trailers, including refrigerated and waste‑transport units. It replaces the...
Algeciras-Bobadilla Line Closed ‘at Least Until August’
The Algeciras‑Bobadilla rail corridor, the sole rail link to Spain’s largest container port, has been out of service since February after severe storm damage. The line’s collapse isolates the port from the national network, forcing cargo to shift to trucks...
Listen to the RF Podcast #10 – ‘Rail Players Need New Ways of Communicating’
RailFreight’s tenth RF Podcast, recorded at RailTech Europe 2026, examines the strained communication between rail infrastructure managers and freight operators. Guest Kris Kosmala, a startup mentor at D2XCEL, argues that current collaboration tools are outdated and hinder efficient freight movement. The...
European Loc Pool EuroDual Units Receive Balkan Homologation
European Loc Pool (ELP) announced that its EuroDual hybrid locomotives have secured homologation for operation in Slovenia and Croatia, joining Serbia’s 2023 approval. The move expands the geographic footprint of ELP’s fleet along the Adriatic‑Central Europe corridor, linking the ports...
Russian Rail Freight Might Gain Momentum From Middle East War
Russian rail freight is showing early signs of stabilisation as the Middle East war reshapes logistics demand. March 2026 volumes slipped only 2.1% year‑on‑year, a marked slowdown from the 4% decline in January. Coal shipments posted a modest 0.4% rise,...
Smurfit Westrock Puts Paper on Rail Between Germany and Poland
Smurfit Westrock has launched a dedicated rail corridor linking its Hoya mill in Germany with packaging plants in Poland, replacing more than 1,400 truck trips each year. The service uses 600‑metre trains operated by PKP Cargo and Transwaggon, aiming to...
11% of Russian Freight Wagons Unusable Amid Maintenance Crisis
As of March 2026, 11% of Russia's freight wagons—about 158,000 units—are out of service, nearly double the figure from mid‑2025. A steep 70% drop in wagon rental rates has slashed operator revenues, curbing maintenance spending and driving monthly repairs down...
