Freight Tracks

FREIGHT TRACKS

FEBRUARY 14 2022

The

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rail freight launch issue

le fi ro p E B O n so p im S e gi ag M e: Insid ‘Logomotive’: Reader’s competition & offer

Forward freight!

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elcome to our new digital magazine - Freight Tracks - which we hope you enjoy reading as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. We launch at an exciting time for rail freight in many global and geographical markets.

Every two weeks, our team of expert writers will bring readers some of the most exciting and interesting news and views from the world of rail freight.

Speak to many managers and executives in the industry and it quickly becomes clear that two main themes are focusing many minds in the coming months - the continuing shortage of truck drivers that threatens to bring much of the global supply chain to a halt and headline-making green conciousness. This is seeing a modal shift towards rail where many customers are contemplating switching for the first time.

This is because arguably rail is the perfect mode for the times we live in to move the goods we require and desire.

Since the 18th century, railways have always moved goods safely and economically and in their fourth century they continue to move goods in a green and viable manner.

1435 media Freight Tracks magazine is published by 1435 media London. Savvy readers will need no help in working out why this name was chosen. It is the metric translation of the Stephenson standard guage, known around the world, as I am sure Freight Tracks will become!

Press releases can be sent to editor@freight-tracks.com Cover photo: Chris Lannister, 35, works in IT. Based in Newton-Le-Willows, he tries to photo freight workings on the weekend, usually at Winwick Junction.

Colas Rail 37219 entered service in 1964, some two decades before Chris was born.

If you have any stunning photos of freight trains you might like to see on the cover, send them to freighttracks@gmail.com.

Publisher & Editor: James Graham editor@freight-tracks.com

Editorial support: Kim Smith Designer: Alex Brown freighttracks@gmail.com

Sales Manager: Martin Kingwell martin@freight-tracks.com

Webmaster: Natasha Antony Contributors: Neil Madden, Chris Lewis Johnathan Webb, Will Huskisson

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written consent.

Material sent to the editor, whether commissioned or freely submitted, is provided at the contributor’s own risk. Freight Tracks cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Freight Tracks are not necessarily those of the editor of Freight Tracks. We are unable to guarantee the bonafide of any advertiser.

Copyright: 1435 Media London 2022 1435 Media London 259 Sydenham Road Croydon CR0 2ET United Kingdom +44 (0) 7443 598925

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 14 2022 #1 FEATURES

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The FREIGHT TRACKS Profile: Maggie Simpson OBE Cometh the hour, cometh the woman

We [heart] Rail Freight Horst Zimmermann, Georg Dangl, Andrew Hemmings, James Graham, Anonymous

LOGOMOTIVE competition Enter our competition, thanks to Sheldrake Publishing

NEWS

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headline news DB Cargo under scrutiny UP addresses Los Angeles theft

NEWS REVIEW CargoBeamer new CEO Anywhere but London GB Railfreight launches new service Multimodal grows for operail Rail freight to grow by $29.29bn

REGULARS Russian Rail Freight Russia steppes into exciting times for rail freight action

In Love with Leasing In rail freight worldwide, leasing makes a perfect marriage with the economics of operations

16 People on the Move 66 Rail Freight Landmark 72 Small Scale Rail Freight 73 End of the Line: Feat of Clay

a rail freight story again. reight-tracks.com www.freight-tracks.com

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KEEP THE DATE: September 27, 2022

Around the world, day and night, freight trains move the stuff we need, the stuff we enjoy and the stuff we make. Hour after hour, cargo is shifted from the quayside, the factory door to the warehouse.

WORLD FREIGHT TRAIN DAY 2022 will celebrate the drivers, yard staff, loaders, planners and workshop staff who get the freight through.

Freight Tracks will work with railroads and Freight Operating Companies to promote the importance of the modern freight train in the global supply chain. The date marks the day the world’s first public railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway in England, opened.

Over the next eight months, we will plan a series of events and projects that salute the Freight Train in all its importance.

THE FREIGHT TRACKS PROFILE

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE WOMAN “Things are coming together for rail freight”

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THE FREIGHT TRACKS PROFILE

n just three years, we will be celebrating the bicentenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in England’s North East. This anniversary will mark two centuries of moving freight by rail, an activity that is still getting Maggie Simpson up in the morning. As Director General of the UK’s Rail Freight Group,

Simpson is navigating the industry trade body as, instead of moving lumps of carbon from pithead to boiler, freight railways are now an integral part of a global attempt to de-carbonise the environment.

The value of rail freight in the UK at the present time is just south of £1 billion annually.

This year, Maggie will have headed the trade body for a decade as Director General. Surprisingly for one in her position, she did not have a history in rail freight when she arrived at the body some 17 years ago. This has proved no barrier to her ability to head up the trade body or dent her passion for the sector in any manner.

“The RFG has some one hundred members, companies that are from all parts of the rail freight industry in the UK,” she says. This includes rail freight operating companies, shippers, customers, logistics operators and property firms.

The group is funded by its membership.

Growing excitement

Maggie, who was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to rail freight, joined the RFG in 2005. A large element of the RFG’s remit is making sure that UK Government policy supports the rail freight sector while at the same time keeping the best interests of her members at the forefront of political and business settings. Before joining the RFG, Maggie worked in safety and risk assessment for a consultancy which started to work with railway clients. She then moved on to OPRAF (Office of Passenger Rail Franchising), managing franchise contracts, later joining the

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Strategic Rail Authority in their freight team.

Now she is at the helm of the trade body at a time when there is nothing but growing excitement inside the rail freight supply chain in the UK. In fact, on the RFG website is a simple statement of intent: “Now is an exciting time to be involved in the rail freight sector.” Maggie is keen to be associated with this mantra. She says: “Things are coming together for rail freight. There is a growing focus on environmental matters, a growing excitement that I can see.

It is incredible that back in the day, for many years British Railways and the National Coal Board were each other’s biggest customers.

She is of the opinion that the UK government must support this “real positively” for rail freight to ensure this focus, this excitement is not lost.

Important pressure

The Collins dictionary describes a “seismic shift or change” as a very sudden or dramatic change.

While Maggie is in charge of the RFG, the British railway industry is undergoing a once in a 30 to 40 year change, a seismic move towards modal shift that can only benefit RFG members.

There can be said to be two strands behind the positive feelings towards freight trains at present. The first strand is about de-carbonisation and the second is a national shortage of HGV drivers.

The national drive toward decarbonising transport is rapidly gathering momentum. It is fundamentally changing the way government and leading transport professionals view the potential of rail freight. At the same time, in

THE FREIGHT TRACKS PROFILE the midst of the global pandemic, a shortage of HGV drivers in the UK has arisen. Much of the domestic supply chain has been troubled by structural changes in the availability and retention of drivers that saw tractors parked idly in factory and warehouse yards across the country.

When Maggie is quizzed as to which of these strands is the more important pressure behind the positivity towards rail freight, she pauses.

She says: “It is hard to say which of these two strands are more important. Both are playing a part at the moment. The driver shortage is an immediate crisis while de-carbonisation is a longer term ambition.

“Drivers will come back on stream in time.

However the move, the modal shift to rail. will continue.”

She is talking as the rail freight industry is in the spotlight like it hasn’t been since 1945. In the weeks of the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year, media reporters were hunting out empty supermarket shelves as backgrounds for their reports on the global supply chain issues.

This resulted in many reporters approaching the RFG for backgrounders on the importance and workings of the supply chain and rail’s particular role, flooding the group with its highest-ever level of press and media enquiries.

Simpson considers this heightened interest is a positive sign that the supply chain is coming out from the shadows. She says: “There has been a focus on the supply chain as never before during the pandemic. In the last two years, rail freight has helped to save the government. Shelves have been filled by rail. Freight matters, it delivers.”

Some challenges survive

Against the background of her promotion of the Group members’ interests, Maggie is aware there are some challenges that must be resolved for the future of the industry.

Key to these challenges are capacity matters - both physically and in terms of network. The disadvantage of being a first starter in the railway world sees Great Britain have one of the smallest loading gauges in the world. Tunnels are the greatest bottleneck on the network, notes Maggie.

This problem is being resolved she is pleased to note. Another brake on UK rail freight is the lack of diversionary routes. The provision of these should be increased to help bolster rail freight operations.

The lack of freight terminals, a likely result of decades of rail cuts and network shrinkage also work to deflate possible capacity on the UK’s rail system. Certain areas of England are especially short of locations.

Another shortfall in the industry is the lack of domestic intermodal and freight traffic. Maggie describes it as “warehouse to warehouse” movements that make up barely one in ten freight train movements. This is slowly changing as increasing numbers of hauliers and shippers seek to avoid rising road fuel costs and a shortage of drivers.

Cometh the hour

Spend any time with Maggie in her official capacity and you know you are in the presence of a great advocate for the freight railway and her group’s membership involvement in the industry.

Under her stewardship, the RFG and the wider rail freight world has undeniably moved into the spotlight like never before. This pandemic will surely pass.

If she is still in the driving cab of the RFG in a decade’s time, when the pandemic is being taught as modern history to British schoolchildren, Maggie will have two decades under her belt.

UK rail freight operators will be glad she is still in place.

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headline news

DB Cargo under scrutiny for ‘u

EUROPE UNION The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether certain support measures in favour of DB Cargo are in line with EU State aid rules.

DB Cargo is a 100% subsidiary of the State-owned, vertically-integrated German rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG). DB Cargo has been persistently loss-making. Its losses have been fully and continuously covered by DB AG on the basis of an open-ended profit and loss transfer agreement concluded between DB AG and DB Cargo.

The Commission received a complaint alleging that the profit and loss transfer agreement as well as certain other measures benefitting DB Cargo amount to incompatible State aid in favour of the company.

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In this respect, according to the complainant, such measures give DB Cargo an undue advantage over its competitors, by enabling it to invest in the growth and expansion of its business and in the upgrade of its fleet, despite being loss-making and without having to take profitability or liquidity into account.

At this stage, based on its preliminary assessment, the Commission has concerns that certain measures in favour of DB Cargo may not be line with EU State aid rules and has decided to open an indepth investigation in relation to: A. the open-ended profit and loss transfer agreement between DB AG and DB Cargo, under which DB AG has been covering DB Cargo’s losses since 2012; B. the provision by DB AG at potentially favour-

headline news

undue advantage’ over rivals

able pricing terms for of intra-group services to DB Cargo; C. the potentially advantageous group financing conditions of loans; and D. the partial coverage by the German Federal Railway Fund of the remuneration of civil servants previously employed by the former national railway company Deutsche Bundesbahn and currently allocated to DB Cargo.

The Commission will now investigate further to determine whether its initial concerns are confirmed.

The opening of an in-depth investigation gives Germany, the complainant and other interested third parties, an opportunity to submit comments.

It does not prejudge the investigation’s outcome.

Background

Under EU State aid rules, public interventions in favour of companies can be considered free of State aid when they are made on terms that a private operator would have accepted under market conditions (the market economy operator principle - MEOP). If this principle is disrepected, the public interventions involve State aid within the meaning of Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, because they confer an economic advantage on the beneficiary that its competitors do not have.

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headline news

Kevin Wells, Sr Supervisor Police Division, on patrol

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headline news

UP ADDRESSES LOS ANGELES CARGO THEFT Last month, media outlets around the world carried images of the contents of looted ocean containers strewn on the lineside where e-Commerce packages were abandoned. Adrian Guerrero, UP General Director Public Affairs addressed the issue in a statement.

NORTH AMERICA A spike in cargo thefts from Union Pacific trains in Los Angeles County, California, has intensified actions to address the serious situation.

The thefts involve criminals trespassing on Union Pacific property, climbing aboard trains and breaking into customers’ containers loaded with cargo, packages and merchandise destined to warehouse facilities around the country.

Union Pacific has 1,600 employees covering 275 miles of track at its nine rail facilities throughout Los Angeles County. The railroad mobilised an aggressive response, increasing the number of police assigned to protecting the targeted areas in Los Angeles County, as well as leveraging technology, such as drone surveillance, specialised fencing and trespass-detection systems.

Union Pacific agents have made hundreds of arrests, but fewer than half are booked and some are released in under 24 hours.

In addition to Union Pacific efforts, partnership with local and state law enforcement and elected public officials is essential. Over the past year, rail thefts have increased by 160% in Los Angeles County and have spiked in the past four months during the holiday peak season. In October 2021 alone, thefts from Union Pacific trains increased 356% compared to October 2020.

Thefts over the past two weeks left Union Pacific rail property littered with debris, as reported by numerous media outlets around the globe.

Union Pacific underscored concerns

in a letter sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney on December 20, 2021. It asked for help ensuring there are consequences for those who prevent the railroad from safely moving customer goods.

“Criminals are caught and arrested, turned over to local authorities for booking, arraigned before the local courts, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offence and the criminal is released after paying a nominal fine,” said the letter. “These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than 24 hours.

Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimisation to UP by these same criminals.”

The letter goes on to say criminals are boasting to Union Pacific staff that charges will be pleaded down to simple trespassing – which bears no serious consequence.

The letter urged the District Attorney to reconsider the policy applied to these cases: “While we understand the well-intended social justice goals of the policy, we need our justice system to support our partnership efforts with local law enforcement, hold these criminals accountable, and most important, help protect our employees and the critical local and national rail network.”

In the meantime, Union Pacific continues its partnership and engagement with elected leaders and government agencies, including California Govenor Gavin Newsom in an effort to spur

needed action to curb the criminal activity. It is only through a co-ordinated effort with local law enforcement agencies and the court system that the situation can get under control.

The Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón agreed. “Our office is committed to working with law enforcement to ensure collective safety across Los Angeles County’s sprawling infrastructure, whether it’s at our ports or on railroad tracks,” the DA said in a public statement. “Our office takes Union Pacific’s concerns seriously and hope to discuss this issue more in the coming weeks.” UP is hopeful and eager to begin that productive dialogue to implement short and long-term solutions.

CRIMINAL COSTS In its letter, the railroad highlighted that just over the past three months of intermodal peak season in preparation for holiday shopping, Union Pacific had experienced in Los Angeles County: • On average over 90 containers compromised per day • In partnership with law enforcement, over 100 arrests had been made of active criminals vandalising trains • Of these arrests UP has not been contacted for any court proceedings.

This increased criminal activity over the past twelve months accounts for approximately $5 million in claims, losses and damages to Union Pacific, not including respective losses to the railroad’s impacted customers.

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Freight trains may lack the glamour associated with famous named passenger trains but there are those who simply love what they do every day when they come to work in the freight yard ...

“Romance of the rails is still there today”

Horst Zimmermann has been a train driver at Retrack, VTG Rail Logistics railway undertaking, since 2018. Before his retraining, he worked as a manager for a newspaper publisher for 20 years.

“This has been my dream job ever since I was a kid,” Zimmermann says. “I was initially afraid that I was too old for it, but then I took the entrance exam and was able to start the retraining.” Zimmermann learned about VTG at the “transport logistic” trade fair in Munich, where he got into conversation with an HR Business Partner. At the time, Retrack didn’t have its own train drivers. But the two kept in touch, and Zimmermann became Retrack’s inaugural train driver after retraining.

He is conscious of the great responsibility he bears as a train driver. “Never get sloppy or fall into a routine,” Zimmermann stresses.

“Even if it’s a hassle or you’re running late, safety always comes first.”

But he also enjoys his time travelling on the rails of Bavaria. “A certain romance of the rails is still there today – even with modern locomotives,” adds Zimmermann, who is also an avid model railroader.

“When I’m working, I’m kind of outdoors, in nature, always on the move, seeing beautiful scenery and feeling the head wind.”

Zimmermann also treasures the peace and quiet and having time for himself.

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Anything but boring!

I’m excited to work in rail transport because it’s a relatively new product - compared to air, sea and road transport - and it’s rapidly growing and developing. There are not many experts on the market yet, so we’ve had to work hard to gain knowledge in the sector. cargo-partner has been offering rail transport solutions across the New Silk Road for nearly a decade now. This means we’ve had the chance to shape a transport mode of the future from the very beginning, and to implement it successfully in our own organisation. Our rail transport solutions across the New Silk Road add value to our customers’ supply chains and help us optimise door-to-door lead times for FCL and LCL shipments on the east- and west-bound trade lanes.

In addition, rail transport is environment-friendly and thus contributes to discovering more sustainable transport solutions.

Finally, it’s important to note that the rail transport market is very volatile. The constant changes require a high degree of dexterity which further adds to making this job anything but boring!

Georg Dangl, Corporate Director Product Management Rail Transport, cargo-partner

Proud to have turned my hobby into my profession I have been the Secretary of the Rail Freight Forum of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT UK since 2014. Over the past twenty years I have lived in Newport, South Wales and worked in the public and private sectors as a transport consultant, adviser and planner.

A graduate of Durham University, I am proud to have turned my hobby into my profession. As a lifelong railway enthusiast, working in rail freight enables me to link my interest with projects that benefit society , the economy and the environment. This creates a profound sense of job satisfaction and social reward, enjoying opportunities to meet people, discuss current issues, propose ideas and resolve problems.

My work with Atkins included studies to convey slate waste from Blaenau Ffestiniog , the export of steel from Birdport , Newport and the viability of intermodal activity from DIRFT to Wentloog terminal, Cardiff. Prior to that I was Senior Policy Adviser to the Welsh Government and manager of the Freight Facilities Grant regime. Schemes involved bringing scrap metal by rail to sites in Newport and Cardiff, and investigating the business case for transporting slate waste along the Conwy Valley to terminals in England . I co-authored ‘Rail Freight - A guide for community groups and rail partnerships’ published

by ACORP and Atkins.

Andrew Hemmings BA(Hons) FCILT

Freight is great, really Over 250 years ago as the initial nursery steps were being taken to develop what would become the modern railroad, the pioneers saw the future in moving coal and manufactured goods.

Instead, people started jumping on the earliest trains, creating a passenger business that survives to this day.

They took over the railroad in the public’s imagination.

Pullman-style named passenger trains, the Flying Scotsman summed up trains for most.

But true enthusiasts always know that it is freight that is the bedrock of railroads.

Long before the green credentials were obvious, a freight train was key to moving the bulk of goods by land over long distances. The modern day sight of a two-milelong container train blocking cars on US road crossings is a something that still thrills me after some 50 years of trainspotting.

Freight is great, really. The variety of interesting, if workaday, wagons never fails to attract my eye.

While passenger authorities have moved to increasingly uniform rolling stock, the needs of cargo customers means there remains the need for more individual designs.

Even intermodal operations contain variety, with terminals being unique in design.

I hope that my enthusiasm translates into a successful Freight Tracks magazine.

The Few deliver the goods and it makes my day, every day I am a driver for one of the Freight Operating Companies and I am one of those lucky individuals who, because they do what they love for a living, doesn’t feel like he or she’s working.

Daily, the view from my cab is different and entrancing. Obviously I keep to driving on regular lines in my region but I never get bored of the action as every day seems different.

Friends often ask whether I would prefer to drive passenger services to moving cargo trains. My reply often surprises them. Firstly there are fewer freight trains than passenger trains. This means we are The Few. The Few deliver the goods and it makes my day, every day.

Secondly, passenger drivers travel from terminus to terminus or just into and out of railway stations in built up areas. We will depart a freight terminal and arrive at a freight terminal. These can be locations in the middle of nowhere.

It’s a great way to earn a living - much better than working for a living!

James Graham, Founder and Editor, Freight Tracks

www.freight-tracks.com

Name and Address supplied

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

TRACY ROBINSON IS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CN rectors. The company has appointed The Hon. Jean Charest PC as an independent Director.

Shauneen Bruder has been appointed Vice Chair of the Board. By no later than CN’s 2022 Annual General Meeting, CN will appoint two new independent Directors with North American railroad experience to the Board.

“We are thrilled to have Tracy join CN as President and CEO and are sure that CN has the right team to lead it into the next phase of growth.

“She brings more than 35 years of operational management, strategy development, and project execution experience to drive growth and success.

“I would like to thank Shauneen for leading the Search Committee through a robust process that discovered the right leader to drive growth, continued operational improvement, technological advancement, and shareholder value, and attract a world-class workforce.

“Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Jean to the Board now and look forward to welcoming two additional Directors with railroad experience. Our strategy is well-underway, and we have made progress towards building the railway of the future,” said Robert Pace, Chair of the Board of Directors of CN.

CANADA Canadian National has appointed Tracy Robinson as President and CEO and as a member of its Board of Directors, effective February 28, 2022. This appointment follows the previously announced retirement of JeanJacques ‘JJ’ Ruest, who will depart CN’s Board on February 28 2022 but remain at CN in an advisory role until March 31 2022 to ensure a seamless transition.

Robinson, who will be joining CN from TC Energy and previously spent almost three decades at CP. is a well-respected and seasoned public company executive who brings more than 35 years of operational management, strategy development and project execution experience to drive growth to CN. She has a proven track record as an extraordinary high-performing leader, for which she is highly regarded within the Canadian federal and provincial regulated natural gas industry and beyond.

CN also announced several changes to its Board of Di-

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Transformational period Robinson said: “This is a transformational period at CN, and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities ahead.

“Our focus is on building the railway of the future – one that creates shareholder value by meeting the needs of our customers, employees, communities and the economies that depend on us, safely and reliably. I look forward to working closely with CN’s extremely talented railroaders, Board, and management team as we take CN to the next level of performance and industry leadership. I also want to say that I respect and value CN’s rich history in Montreal and in Quebec, where the common and main language is French.

“I am excited to be returning to the wonderful city of Montreal and I have already begun French lessons to ensure I am able to fully embrace the experience of living in Quebec and communicate with CN’s valued employees and customers.”

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

CargoBeamer appoints Nicolas Albrecht as CEO GERMANY CargoBeamer, a European pioneer in decarbonising freight traffic, has appointed Nicolas Albrecht as the company’s new CEO. Albrecht joined the Executive Board in January 2020 as Chief Business Development Officer.

Dr Hans-Jürgen Weidemann, co-founder and former CEO, continues to oversee the company’s patented technology development as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Dr Markus Fischer (47), Executive Board member since June 2016, continues as CFO. Robert A Osterrieth, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of CargoBeamer: “The appointment of Nicolas Albrecht as CEO is a generational change in the leadership of CargoBeamer. Hans-Jürgen Weidemann developed the leading technology to shift freight transport from road to rail and successfully introduced it to the market with our Kaldenkirchen – Domodossola route and the opening of the first CargoBeamer terminal in Calais. The responsibility of Nicolas Albrecht will be to rapidly scale the proven business model into an international high-capacity transport network covering the important North-South and East-West transport corridors in Europe.”

Massive difference Dr Hans-Jürgen Weidemann, co-founder and CTO of CargoBeamer: “My vision was and is to introduce a technology for automated, fast, environmentally friendly and cost-efficient rail transport of all types of semi-trailers. We have realised this vision from paper sketches to market maturity with the unique CargoBeamer system – and reduce CO2 emissions of tens of thousands of annual transports by about 80% compared to road transport.”

Albrecht commented: “CargoBeamer has the potential to make a massive difference in saving CO2 emissions by scaling its proprietary system and becoming the European market leader in road-rail combined transport.

“We benefit from the megatrends of climate change, road congestion and increasing freight volumes. CargoBeamer aims to generate annual revenues of up to €5 billion in about 10 years, an aggressive and at the same time realistic objective.”

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Steffanie Vagnozzi joins Edna A Rice UNITED STATES Clear Lake Shores, Texas-based Edna A Rice Executive Recruiters has appointed Steffanie Vagnozzi as Executive Recruiter, effective February 1, 2022. In this role, Steffanie will be responsible for attracting top talent within the rail and transportation industry. She is a highly respected industry veteran who brings a wealth of experience and a network of connections across the industry.

During her 17 years in the rail industry, Steffanie has worked directly for two of the largest railcar and equipment manufacturers in North America. She started her rail career with TrinityRail in the sales administration group and rose to VP of Sales covering territories in the southwest and Gulf region. She moved to Greenbrier Companies to develop accounts in the northeastern US and Eastern Canada to expand her career aspirations.

“It’s an exciting time in rail and transportation as more and more companies turn to us for help,” said Edna Rice, President of Edna A Rice Recruiters. “As the job market has grown, we embrace Steffanie’s leadership in rail and welcome her to our team.”

Vagnozzi said: “I am thrilled to join an outstanding and well-respected organisation. I look forward to supporting our clients and ensuring the success of the companies we serve.”

As the newest member of Edna Rice Executive Rail Recruiters, Vagnozzi aspires to bring diversity, energy, and positivity to organisations by recruiting high-level talent ready to take the next step in their careers. She is highly motivated by helping others succeed in their own personal and professional journeys and strengthening her connections within the rail and transportation community.

Edna A Rice, Executive Recruiters, Inc. is the world’s most accomplished executive search firm specialising in the rail, transportation, and mobility industries since 1988.

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CLAYTON EQUIPMENT PROMOTES GARETH JENKINS UNITED KINGDOM With effect from February 1, Gareth Jenkins has been promoted to the position of Operations Director, Clayton Equipment.

He has been with Clayton for nearly 10 years, his most recent role being Engineering Manager.

Previous to joining Clayton Equipment, Gareth was a design engineer with experience in the UK rail industry.

Managing Director, Clive Hannaford, says of the appointment: “Gareth has a wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding of Clayton Equipment and in this role will provide a strategic direction to all the operational activities of the company to ensure that business

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

objectives are met efficiently and effectively.

“We wish Gareth success in his new position,” said Hannaford.

NEWS REVIEW

Anywhere but London UNITED KINGDOM Britain’s railways are embarking on a major, once in a generation reform that will transform the way in which the sector works, bringing together track and train to deliver a customer-focused railway. Great British Railways will be the railway’s new guiding mind, and a transition team has been established to drive forward its design and deliver early rewards.

The vision is to create a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain. A commitment to establish Great British Railways was made in May 2021 as part of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, focused on delivering sweeping reforms that create a truly passenger-focused railway. It will serve as a single, accountable public body responsible for running Britain’s railways. As a new organisation, with a new culture, focused on serving the interests of everyone in Britain, Great British Railways will need a new national headquarters.

On October 4 2021, the Secretary for State for Transport announced that a competition will take place to pinpoint a location for the headquarters outside of London.

Promote communities Towns and cities outside of London have the opportunity to participate in the Great British Railways national headquarters selection process, which is being run by the Great British Railways Transition Team on behalf of the Department for Transport. The competition will seek to recognise places with a rich railway heritage, strong links to the national network and public support for the selected location, creating a great opportunity to promote communities as the proud home for the start of a new era in Britain’s railways.

The local authorities of towns or

YOU ARE HERE

cities taking part in the competition will be responsible for submitting an Expression of Interest to begin the selection process. A public consultation vote on a shortlist of places will then be conducted as part of the competition to test public support.

Great British Railways will be structured to create a balance between the need to take a whole-system view nationally, particularly for freight and cross-country services, and to meet the needs of local communities and regions. Key network-wide decisions will be taken at national level where necessary, with most strategic and operational matters led by regional divisions.

These will initially be organised in line with the regions established in Network Rail’s recent Putting Passengers First programme, which shows how passengers and freight move across the network today.

The regional divisions will be responsive and accountable for the whole system in their areas, including budgets. Within each division, integrated local teams will bring decision making closer to the people and places that the railways serve.

The national headquarters is expected to be located in a single site.

The deadline for submitting the Expression of Interest is March 16 2022.

CargoBeamer closes €33.5 million financing round GERMANY To accelerate its growth, CargoBeamer plans strategic capital expenditures in rolling stock and terminals. It raised €33.5 million in its latest financing round at a post-money valuation of €245 million. New investors included mostly private investors from Switzerland and the US that were attracted by CargoBeamer’s long-term growth potential and environmental benefits.

In 2021, Duisport invested in the company and became a strategic partner.

Dr Markus Fischer, CFO of CargoBeamer, said: “We are grateful to our existing and new investors for their support.The new capital will help us execute our ambitious growth plan.

The confidence placed in CargoBeamer by new international investors is encouraging and motivating.”

Matthias Ederer, private investor from New York, said: “CargoBeamer ticks many boxes of a very promising company: massive growth potential, proprietary and proven technology, a wide competitive moat and tail winds from two important megatrends, climate change and road congestion.

Making an impact towards a better environment also attracted me.”

The new capital will be used to double the Company’s rolling stock to almost 600 CargoBeamer railcars and develop new CargoBeamer Terminals.

In the next ten years, CargoBeamer wants to build a dense network of more than 50 routes connecting over 30 CargoBeamer Terminals along the main transportation corridors in its core European market.

The first terminal in Calais was opened in July 2021. Construction of the next two CargoBeamer Terminals in Domodossola, Italy and Kaldenkirchen, on the German-Dutch border, is expected to start this year.

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NEWS REVIEW

GB Railfreight launches new service for Brett Aggregates UNITED KINGDOM Last month, GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Brett Aggregates, independent building materials supplier, successfully launched a new aggregates service from Newhaven, East Sussex, to Thorney Mill, West Drayton.

This was the first service operated by GBRf from Brett Aggregates’ Newhaven collection terminal, which is capable of receiving 10,000-tonne cargo vessels.

The train consisted of 17 wagons, transporting approximately 1,350 tonnes of aggregate destined for construction projects in Southeast England.

The new service marks GBRf’s continued expansion in the bulk market and brings opportunity to support Brett Aggregates by operating future services from its collection terminals.

Tim Hartley, Business Development Director, GB Railfreight, said: “This new service demonstrates how transporting material by rail, which otherwise would have been taken by road, significantly reduces the environmental impact of important construction projects across the Southeast.”

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NEWS REVIEW

First Japan-EU intermodal over the Trans-Siberian EUROPEAN UNION Russian Railways, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and FESCO Transportation Group (FESCO) sent the first refrigerated containers with cargo from Japan to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The consigned cargo consisted of food, beverages and pharmaceutical products that call for special storage

and transportation conditions.

Refrigerated containers from Japanese cities Toyama and Kobe were delivered by the FESCO marine service to Commercial Port Vladivostok (CPV, a FESCO company). From there, they were despatched to St Petersburg (above) as part of the regular FESCO train on February 2 2022.

The transit containers will then

be delivered via shipping on the Baltic to ports in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Transportation is organised within the framework of a joint project of test shipments of goods in refrigerated containers from Japan implemented by Russian Railways, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and FESCO.

CP and CHEO Foundation tee off for charity at the 2022 CP Women’s Open CANADA Canadian Pacific (CP) will again partner with the CHEO Foundation, a paediatric health-care and research centre in Ottawa, as the primary charity partner for the 2022 CP Women’s Open, with a goal of raising more than $2.2 million.

Marking Heart Month, CP and CHEO Foundation are holding a monthlong public matching fundraising campaign. Until February 28, CP will match donations up to a total of $25,000.

“CP is excited to bring the world’s best golfers back to Ottawa, and proud

to support the CHEO Foundation again in 2022,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. “One in every 100 babies born in Canada each year has a congenital heart defect. Specialists at CHEO help children who need cardiac care live their best lives. Funds raised twill help to upgrade and replace vital diagnostic equipment they rely on.”

CP Has Heart The CP Has Heart programme earned

the CP Women’s Open recognition from the LPGA Tournament Owners Association, winning the Gold Driver Awards for Best Charity for Community Engagement among all LPGA Tour events in 2017 and 2019.

CP has helped raise around $13.5 million to support children’s heart health in Canada during the nine years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open.

This year will mark the fourth time since the railways has became title sponsor.

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NEWS REVIEW

HEINLOTH takes to the rails

LTG INFRA TRANSFERS MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS CARGO LITHUANIA In order to ensure the maximum safety of the railway network, LTG Infra transferred the localisation, liquidation and utilisation of hazardous materials to the specialised company Ekovalis.

Arvydas Dveilys, LTG Infra’s maintenance manager, states that there are traffic accidents during transportation, which must be eliminated by the infrastructure manager.

“Exercises with the contingency units of the Polish and Latvian infrastructure managers, after which we assessed the available competencies and equipment, we decided to buy the latter function from the contractors,” says Dveilys.

Until now, LTG Infra has been able to independently dispose of only Class 3 (flammable liquids) spilled dangerous goods, and for the handling of other classes of hazardous materials the company has used specialists from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department.

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For disposal, specialised companies localise, liquidate, utilise and monitor changes in environmental pollution. A three-year contract has been signed with the company and services will be provided 24/7.

According to Dveilys, small leaks of dangerous goods occur on average up to five times a year, and larger incidents when dangerous substances are released into the environment occur up to two times. Diesel Class 3 is the most commonly spilled. LTG Infra promptly liquidated all cases.

LTG Infra will save about €250,000 per year by handing over the localisation, liquidation and utilisation works of hazardous substances to the contractor.

LTG Infra will continue to take care of the lifting of rolling stock. According to Dveilys, such works will remain with the infrastructure manager, as market participants do not have adequate resources to react promptly to such events.

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

GERMANY Southern German logistics specialist HEINLOTH is shifting transport to rail. Various factors, such as Brexit, the effects of the pandemic and the lack of truck drivers, among other things, are currently impacting the transport and logistics industry.

HEINLOTH is reacting to this by expanding Europe-wide intermodal transport. In this way, the corporate group based in Roth in Central Franconia is also pushing ahead with its sustainability strategy.

Since last summer, the logistics specialist has been operating the route between Nuremberg and Verona and vice versa, with 40 trailers per week via combined road and rail transport.

With 100 trailers per week, HEINLOTH now also covers the route between Nuremberg and Rotterdam in the Netherlands and vice versa, including onward transportation to Great Britain.

HEINLOTH had already switched from accompanied to unaccompanied ferry traffic in spring 2020 in preparation for Brexit. The company has now taken the next step by partially shifting the on-carriages to and from the port of Rotterdam to rail.

Florian Bast, Director Forwarding at HEINLOTH, explains: “In the transport and logistics sector, combining road and rail connections is essential: in many respects and with a clear upward trend. trucks, rail and ferries increase the administrative and organisational effort in route planning and back office.”

HEINLOTH has purchased cranable trailers necessary for transport by rail and hired new employees to handle the processes.

“The switch to intermodal transport is also an investment in the future,” Bast says. Setting the focus on intermodal transport is a reaction to the lack of resources.”

NEWS REVIEW

New Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics SIT yard to relieve railcar congestion UNITED STATES Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics, a joint venture of Watco Companies, Pontikes Development, and McNair Interests, will build and operate a 400-car storage-in-transit (SIT) yard designed to alleviate railcar congestion and allow for acceleration of supply chain distribution.

The Port 10 Watco Rail Logistics SIT Yard will provide additional off-site railroad infrastructure, enabling industrial customers to store empty and loaded railcars outside of their industrial footprint. This offsite option gives customers a cost-effective way to maximise their production capabilities and optimise their operations. The more efficient use of space improves the customer’s production and distribution economics.

“We expect the new yard — an extension of the Port 10 Logistics Center

industrial park development — will add convenience, flexibility and operational efficiencies to our customers in the Baytown area,” said Marc Massoglia, Watco’s Senior Vice President of sales for terminal and port services.

“The premier location sits adjacent to Interstate 10 and provides easy interstate access with rail connectivity to the Union Pacific (UP) with direct access to UP’s Coady Yard.”

In addition to the approximately 400 railcar spots, three million square feet of warehouse and distribution space will be available for forward positioning customer products.

National network “Watco is the ideal partner to round out our multimodal capabilities at Port 10 Logistics Center,” said George Pon-

tikes of Pontikes Development. “Their expertise and national network will add a tremendous amount of value and services to Port 10 tenants and the Baytown and Port of Houston industrial market as a whole.”

McNair Interests President Scott Schwinger said: “The new rail served facilities and terminal at Port 10 have the ability to transform rail transport and logistics across east Houston and throughout the greater Port of Houston region.”

Pontikes added: “McNair Interests is excited to join Watco and Pontikes Development in bringing this industry leading facility to the greater Port 10 community.”

Construction on the yard is expected to begin in February and be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

RAILCAR DESIGN AIMS TO REDUCE INDUSTRY’S EMISSIONS

UNITED STATES Even though rail is the most fuel-efficient way to move freight over land — with one train moving one ton of freight more than 480 miles per gallon of fuel — railroads are working to become even more environmentally responsible. Recently, Norfolk Southern collaborated with US Steel and the Greenbriar Companies to develop

open-topped railcars, or gondolas, using high-strength, lighter-weight steel to reduce each railcar’s unloaded weight by up to 15,000 pounds. “Not only will each gondola carry more material, they will do so by using less energy, making our operations and our customer’s operations, even more environmentally friendly,” NS CEO James Squires said.

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NEWS REVIEW

Rail freight market set to grow by $29.29bn

UNITED STATES The “Rail Freight Market by Destination (domestic and international) and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026” report has been added to Technavio’s portfolio. The potential growth difference for the rail freight market between 2021 and 2026 is $29.29 billion. The report also identifies the market to witness an accelerating growth momentum at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 2.15% during the forecast period.

Market driver The low cost of rail freight and robust investments in freight corridors are some of the key market drivers. The cost of transporting goods to far-off places through rail freight is less than road and airfreight.

For instance, the cost of transporting goods via rail freight between China and Europe is about 80% less than airfreight. Furthermore, the rise in fuel prices are leading to a surge in road freight charges and airfreight rates.

Moreover, in US domestic freight trans-

port, rail freight is more economical than both air and road transports due to the low direct cost associated with rail freight.These factors will impact the rail freight market positively during the forecast period.

Market challenges However, factors such as increasing maintenance expenses will challenge market growth. The increase in maintenance cost of rail infrastructure and the non-competitive pricing of rail freight is another negative factor that can hamper the growth of the global rail freight market during the forecast period. The maintenance of railways includes upkeeping trains, stations, loading docks and signaling systems. The average maintenance cost is around 25%-30% of the total operating cost of rail freight.

Market segment The rail freight market report is segmented by destination (domestic and international) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA and

South America). Domestic segment led the largest rail freight market share in 2021 and will continue to account for the largest share during the forecast period.

The growth of this segment cannot be attributed to the preference for rail freight by end-users due to the low direct cost associated with rail freight in the transportation of goods. In addition, rail freight offers a solid and safe solution for transporting flammable goods such as oil, petroleum, natural gas, coal products, chemical products and other derivatives of crude oil.

In terms of geography, APAC will be the leading region with 34% of the market’s growth during the forecast period.

The region will account for the highest revenue during the forecast period mainly due to the lower cost of rail freight transport and the significant increase in industrial and cross-border trade activities in developing countries in APAC, such as China and other countries such as India and Japan are the key markets for rail freight in APAC.

Top market players analysis The rail freight market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Companies in the market are looking forward to launching innovative solutions to gain an upper edge in the market.

They are also engaging in mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their leadership and presence in the market.

Some of the dominant players covered in this report are BNSF Railway; Brookfield Business Partners; Canadian National Railway; Canadian Pacific Railwayl; Colas; CSX Corpl; Dassault Systemes; Deutsche Post; SNTFM; Marfa; and, WSP Global.

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NEWS REVIEW Adif tenders supply and transport of ballast

SPAIN The board of directors of Adif has published a tender for the ballast supply and transport contract for the works and maintenance needs of the Railway Network of General Interest (RFIG) in Spain, worth €14,5 million.

The tender provides for the supply of an estimated quantity of 480,000 cubic m of ballast and includes the following operations: – The extraction of the stone for the manufacture of ballast.

– The temporary storage of the ballast in the quarry’s regulatory stockpiles.

– Transportation of the ballast manufactured and stored in the quarry to the loading point that the successful bidder has chosen, including unloading, stockpiling, conservation and custody of the stockpiled material and its loading and levelling in the hoppers that will transfer it to its destination, if required.

– The transport of the ballast manufactured and stored in the quarry to RFIG points other than the loading point chosen by the successful bidder.

The contract is divided into six lots corresponding to different geographical areas linked to Adif’s Maintenance headquarters.

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UP AND SCHNEIDER TEAM UP FOR INTERMODAL SERVICE IN 2023 UNITED STATES Union Pacific Railroad will be the primary intermodal rail transportation provider in the western US for Schneider effective January 2023.

The partnership creates seamless service and reliability between the railroad and Schneider, which provides the critical “first and last miles” of the supply chain.

“Schneider’s intermodal business is a great fit for Union Pacific’s diverse network,” said Union Pacific Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz. “We look forward to growing in the intermodal space together.”

Schneider, a premier transportation and logistics provider, recently celebrated over 30 years of intermodal service. Schneider’s intermodal network services +45 ramps in North America with over 25,000 intermodal containers.

“We are excited to have Schneider be a part of our intermodal service offering,” said Union Pacific Executive Vice President – Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker.

“Schneider’s operational excellence and focus on growth, combined with the strength of Union Pacific’s intermodal network are a natural fit. We expect both companies to provide customer-centric solutions, utilizing Union Pacific’s unparalleled franchise and reliable intermodal service product.”

“When we pair Union Pacific’s transcontinental rail solutions with our company-owned assets and professional drivers, we will be an unstoppable force in the intermodal marketplace,” said Schneider Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Jim Filter.

Belarus bans rail transit of oil products and fertilizers from Lithuania LITHUANIA The Lithuanian Railways (LTG) Group has received a notice from the Railway Transport Council of the CIS countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria – on the ban from Monday February 7 imposed by the Belarusian railways on the transit of oil products and fertilizers from Lithuania through Belarus.

LTG Cargo, a rail freight company belonging to the group, planned to transit up to 0.9 million tonnes of oil and oil products and approximately 0.5 million tonnes of fertilizers through Belarus this year.

“Currently, we are informing customers who are interested in the transit of these cargoes through Belarus. We will actively work with them to secure solutions to the situation,” says Egidijus Lazauskas, General Director of LTG. LTG Cargo, a railway freight company belonging to the LTG Group, has been pursuing the development of alternative freight corridors through Poland for various freight and international routes in transit through Poland to Ukraine, Turkey or other more eastern directions.

Alternative routes In order to develop and launch alternative routes through Poland, it will be important to assess aspects such as route length and duration, route organisation processes in Poland, changes in rolling stock due to differing track gauge standards- the Polish network is standard at 1435 mm in a region of 1520 mm broad gauge lines. When transporting goods via an alternative corridor, trains from Ukraine could enter Poland through one of the two or three border posts.

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

NEWS REVIEW

LTG Cargo Ukraine starts providing forwarding services in Ukraine UKRAINE LTG Cargo Ukraine, a subsidiary of the freight forwarding company LTG Cargo, has started providing freight forwarding services in Ukraine. The new service will allow even more active participation in the Ukrainian freight market and will contribute to the diversification of LTG Cargo’s strategy.

This service will provide Ukrainian customers with new opportunities to transport freight by rail to Lithuania or via Klaipeda Seaport to other markets.

The company, which started operating in Ukraine in 2021, provided locomotive rental and shunting services and wagon rental services.

“There are many fleet operators and other transport companies operating in the Ukrainian market, therefore all conditions are provided for the provision of forwarding services. Already when establishing the company in Ukraine, the provision of these services was one of our first goals, allowing us to start actively participating in the Ukrainian freight market. Although competition in the sector is extremely high, we see that the demand for quality and reliable services exceeds the supply. Even before the start of this activity, the company received enquiries about the possibilities of forwarding cargo together,” says Eglė Šimė, the head of LTG Cargo.

The international freight forwarding process will be provided to Ukrainian customers through a single company, which will save customers time and other resources, ensure simpler communication and quality services.

“Our main advantage is the ability to cover a wide area of ​​cargo transportation. For customers who transport cargo between Lithuania and Ukraine, we can offer the entire route both in Ukraine and Lithuania. If there is a need for customers in Ukraine, we will be able to service the transit of customers’ cargo through Belarus, and if necessary, we will seek to ensure transit opportuni-

ties through Poland. This means that for customers who want to transport cargo, it will be enough to have one forwarding partner instead of three in each of the countries,“ says the head of LTG Cargo.

In the coming years, LTG Car-

go Ukraine will also seek to offer the Ukrainian market new ways of operating, to contribute to more sustainable intermodal freight transportation and in the long run to offer electric traction projects.

Adif awards the works for gauge conversion of the Barcelona-Can Tunis logistics centre

SPAIN The board of directors of Adif authorised the awarding of the contract for the works to adapt to the international gauge of the Barcelona-Can Tunis logistics centre. The value is €10.3 million and has a 10-month completion date. Barcelona Can Tunis acts as an important logistic centre, where the Castellbisbal-Morrot line, which belongs to the General Interest Railway Network (RFIG), and the access lines to the Port of Barcelona join.

This contract is aimed at boosting the transport of goods, the efficient in-

tegration of rail in the logistics chain and the efficient integration of the railroad in the logistics chain and increasing the quality and reliability of service in this strategic sector.

The works, which have been awarded to the joint venture formed by Acciona Construcción, Control y Montajes Industriales and Sociedad Española, include platform, track and electrification works and the implementation of mixed gauge, both international 1435 mm as well as the Iberian gauge of 1668 mm, to serve the centre.

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NEWS REVIEW

TX Logistik launches domestic intermodal train in Sweden SWEDEN TX Logistik AB, the Swedish subsidiary of the German TX Logistik AG, is expanding its domestic intermodal services in Sweden. As of January 31, the rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), will add a further connection between Trelleborg and Eskilstuna, around 100 km (60 miles) west of Stockholm, to its network The new block train will be operated as a company train for the Austrian full truckload specialist LKW WALTER. The new connection is a further milestone for LKW WALTER for the expansion of combined transport on the European continent.

Four round trips per week are planned. Up to 38 units can be loaded

on one train and most of the units will be trailers. The trains will run between the port in Trelleborg and the combined transport terminal in Eskilstuna, one of the most important hinterland terminals in Sweden. The route runs via Frövi and the transit time will be about seven hours. TX Logistik is responsible for traction, terminal handling and customer service.

Ferry connections

In Trelleborg, LKW WALTER uses the ferry connections to and from Rostock and Travemünde. By shifting transports from the road to the new route, both companies are taking part in a further reduction of CO2. TX Logistik is expe-

riencing sustained high demand for freight transport by rail.

The company foresees potential for further growth above and beyond this in transports on the north- south axis and within Sweden.

TX Logistik is already one of the most important providers of combined rail freight transport in the Scandinavian country. For the retail chain Coop, for example, TX Logistik transports food products 20 times a week between Bro, near Stockholm, and Malmö.

The rail logistics company also supplements the domestic network in Sweden with the national line between Trelleborg, Malmö and Eskilstuna. The line currently operates seven round trips per week as an open train system.

Regular chemical trains along New Silk Road look likely SILK ROAD As soon as the Chinese New Year is over and the Year of the Tiger has roared in, there could be a regular chemical train running on the New Silk Road if plans are achieved.

Operator COSCO and lessor VTG aim

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to have a regular, bi-weekly service in both directions starting this year.

The service has been dubbed COSCO VTG China-EU chemical business.

“We are working with both sides to develop a logistical concept of mov-

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

ing liquid cargo, which is classified as a ‘non-dangerous good’.

“This is now in the planning phase”, Hendrik Wehlen, Business Development Manager at Hamburg-based VTG told the media.

NEWS REVIEW

NS installs hybrid-powered cranes at intermodal terminals

UNITED STATES Norfolk Southern Corporation has completed the installation of five additional new diesel-electric hybrid overhead gantry cranes at Chicago’s Lander and Atlanta’s Inman intermodal terminals. The fuel-efficient cranes further the company’s sustainability efforts by increasing fuel efficiency in terminal operations and reducing air emissions.

The company introduced five hybrid Konecranes into its operations in 2021 at its 47th Street intermodal facility in Chicago. The technology used in the cranes helps to reduce the amount of fuel used while moving freight.

The hybrid cranes are operated with electrical power from a battery and a diesel generator. During normal use, power is drawn exclusively from the battery. Energy from braking is stored and then used to recharge the battery.

During peak use, power is drawn from the battery and diesel generator in parallel.

“We initially sought hybrid-pow-

ered cranes for their fuel efficiency, and, in turn we experienced not only sustainability gains, but found they are far more reliable as well,” said Jeff Heller, Vice President of intermodal and automotive for Norfolk Southern.

“As our team conducted a technology audit to explore replacement opportunities, we found the high-tech hybrids also minimise the need for repairs and require less downtime than traditional cranes. This helps minimise delays related to cranes being down, and in turn improves reliability for our customers.”

Computer tracking The 60-foot-tall (18 m) cranes are designed to work over one or two rail tracks along with two truck lanes at rail yards that serve Chicago and Atlanta.

Crane operators use computer tracking to locate a container and manoeuver the lifting machinery to move containers from rail to truck and vice-versa.

“By integrating these diesel-electric hybrid cranes into our intermodal operations we are leveraging technology and efficiency to help us meet our sustainability goals,” said Josh Raglin, Chief Sustainability Officer for Norfolk Southern.

“Rail is already the most sustainable way to move freight over land, and equipment upgrades like this provide additional long-term emissions reductions that ultimately help us and our customers become even more efficient in our operations.”

The company’s long-term goal is to convert its remaining 58 traditional overhead gantry cranes, located at numerous facilities across its 22-state network, to hybrid power or fully electric over the next decade.

Through this conversion Norfolk Southern estimates that it could achieve approximately 30 million gallons (130 m litres) of fuel savings and reduce over 300,000 tonnes of emissions over the preceding 20 years, when all of its cranes are fully replaced.

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Ian Logan and Jonathan Glancey Foreword by Norman Foster Logomotive is a visual tribute to the heyday of railroad graphics and design.

Arriving in America in 1968, the London designer Ian Logan was blown away by the logos and slogans he saw painted on the sides of freight trains rumbling down Main Street.

In between designing fabrics for Mary Quant and Jeff Banks, he went back time after time with his camera, travelling across America, wandering into freight yards to record the Route of the Eagles, the Rebel Route, the Speedway to America’s Playground and so many other mesmerising advertising ideas of the day.

FREIGHT TRACKS readers in the UK will be able to buy the book online from Sheldrake Press at a 25% discount by signing up as a member, and you will get a free limited-edition print by using the code FT740322 at the checkout.

FREIGHT TRACKS readers in the US can get the 25% discount and the print with the code FT740322.

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NEWS REVIEW

Rail volumes increase at Port of Gothenburg SWEDEN Container shortages, bottlenecks, closures and disruptions may have dominated discussions throughout the past year, but despite the ever-present challenges, volumes at the Port of Gothenburg increased in all dry cargo segments, including containers, ro-ro and new cars.

“There are a number of inter-related factors that have resulted in volume upturn. Our evenly balanced import and export volumes alleviated the impact of container shortages, putting us in a better position than many other ports.

We also had the added benefit of more services to new and important destinations,” said Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority Chief Executive.

In contrast to Europe and the rest of the world, Sweden and Gothenburg managed to avoid abrupt pandemic-induced closures. Ample terminal space and a solid infrastructure gave the port the leeway to counteract the congestion that was becoming increasingly apparent at ports in other countries.

Rail’s all-time high

The port’s rail system, Railport Scandinavia, continues to grow in terms of range and volume. In 2021, 458,000 TEUs (20foot containers) were transported between the port and inland destinations – the highest figure ever. In 2020, the total was 420,000 TEU. In 2021, several new rail shuttles were introduced and the number of departures and volumes on existing shuttle routes increased.

Some 60% of container freight passing through the port is transported by rail, offering significant climate benefits and mitigating the impact of the shortage of truck drivers.

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MULTIMODAL FREIGHT GROWS FOR OPERAIL ESTONIA Last year, Operail brought a record number of containers from the road to the railway and increased the volume of multimodal freight services by almost 50%.

“It can be seen that more and more manufacturers are thinking about the environment and choosing environmentally friendly rail transport as a mode of transport.

I am happy to see this trend and we encourage other manufacturers to make more environmentally friendly decisions as well,” said Raul Toomsalu, Chairman of the management board of Operail. While the transport sector as a whole accounts for 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union, rail transport accounts for only 0.4% and road transport for 72%.

In 2021 Operail managed to replace 16,000 truck journeys with rail transportation and increased multimodal freight volume by 47% over the year, reaching 190,000 tonnes. During the year, Operail’s trains travelled almost 83,000 km to transport the goods. With the same number of containers, trucks would have had to cover almost three million kilometres on the main roads of our country.

“The freight volume could have been even higher, but unfortunately the summer temperatures were too high for the growing grain, and therefore the yield was lower than expected,” said Sanda Benbik-Voitovich, the head of multimodal transport at Operail.

“Nevertheless, we were able to increase the volumes and we also managed to bring new product groups to the railway – for example, ready-made furniture.” Almost 65,000 tonnes of gravel, 45,000 tonnes of peat, and 38,000 tonnes of sawn timber were transported via rail.

Last year, Operail introduced a new information system that made the provision of multimodal freight services even more efficient. In addition, the service portfolio was expanded – both existing and new customers are now offered reloading and container storage services in addition to freight transport. “The new services were very well received in the market and we see that the demand is high. In order to satisfy the demand, we will invest in the expansion of the Tartu container terminal in 2022, so that we can further increase the freight volume and offer additional services to customers,” said Benbik-Voitovich.

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

NEWS REVIEW

Loup Logistics acquires Phoenix transload facility UNITED STATES Loup Logistics Company (Loup), a wholly owned Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary, has acquired the Precision Components (PCI Reload) transload facility in Phoenix, Arizona. The deal was finalised December 30 2021, and offers transloading, storage and trucking solutions to customers shipping into and out of the Phoenix market.

PCI Reload is a premier transload facility located in the heart of Phoenix. The 100+-acre (40 ha) facility includes 12,500 sq m of covered storage and three miles of rail capacity, served by Union Pacific Railroad lines.

The facility processes over 8,000 railcars and 38,000 trucks annually.

“PCI Reload helped fuel Arizona’s economic growth by offering transloading, inventory management and final-destination shipping for a variety of industries,”

said Hal Owens, President – PCI Reload.

“We believe Loup is well positioned to continue the PCI Reload tradition of exceeding customers’ expectations.”

Josh Perkes, Vice President Loup said: “Loup is excited about the growth potential this acquisition provides to customers seeking access to the Phoenix market.

“Loup is backed by a strong leadership team who will seek to maximise rail throughput at the facility.

“We are focused on maintaining the excellent reputation PCI Reload has built over the past 60 years, providing creative rail solutions and cost-effective transload operations.”

RJ Corman Railroad Company purchase creates the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad UNITED STATES RJ Corman Railroad Company has purchased two railroad branches from Norfolk Southern Corporation and created the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad.

The newly established KXCG is comprised of two branches. First, a 59-mile branch (100 km) running from Clinton, Tennessee.

Secondly, a branch of 72 miles (115 km) operates between Beverly, Tennessee, crossing the iconic Cumberland Gap and connecting to Middlesboro, Kentucky.

The former Norfolk Southern lines were historically part of the Southern Railway.

The Knoxville and Cum-

berland Gap Railroad will have rights between the two branches and interchange cars in Norfolk Southern’s Sevier yard.

This acquisition will add over 130 miles (210

km) to the more than 1,200 operated by RJ Corman Railroad.

“We are extremely excited about the creation of the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad,” said

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Ed Quinn, President, and CEO of RJ Corman Railroad Group.

“We see a lot of potential for growth, expansion, and economic development in the region.”

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‘A’ or ‘B’ end of the LNG tank oppose shipping LNG by rail

UNITED STATES Citing flawed safety assessments, a group of 14 state attorneys generals (AGs) recently issued comments in support of indefinitely halting movements of liquified natural gas (LNG) by rail.

This follows the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) suspension in November of last year of its own previously issued rule allowing for shipments of LNG by rail. In its decision, PHMSA expressed

concerns about public and environmental safety.

So, why do I care?

My career in the US freight rail industry spanned five decades, most of which focused on employee and public safety, hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation safety, and protection of the environment.

After retiring in 2017, I was honoured to then be unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the Administrator of PHMSA. I had the pleasure of

FACT: More than 99.99% of all hazmat moved by rail reaches its destination without a release.

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car? I doubt that those who even know the difference

By Skip Elliot Fifth Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Acting Inspector General for US DOT working with a group of tremendously dedicated professionals responsible for overseeing the safety of 1.2 million daily shipments of hazmat by all modes of transportation, as well as the nation’s 2.8-million-mile pipeline network.

This unique perspective of having worked both in the freight rail industry and the federal agency responsible for hazmat transportation safety allows me to clearly see just how flawed most arguments against moving LNG by rail are. Let us face the facts here.

The objections made by the AGs and most others opposed to LNG by rail are not really about rail safety at all.

Their focus and intent are to eradicate the production of fossil fuels by eliminating ways to transport them. The “unsafe by rail” argument is just an easy (and tiredout) way to camouflage a political motive.

To claim a concern about railroad safety is absurd, and the facts prove it. Freight railroads in the United States move hundreds of thousands of loaded tank cars each year containing hundreds of different commodities regulated as hazmat by the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

These products, many of them essential to our daily way of life, cover all types of hazards, including explosives, oxidizers,

poisons, and flammable liquids, solids, and gases. Unquestionably, the nation’s railroads have dedicated themselves to diligently following DOT safety regulations with each hazmat rail car they transport.

Given American railroads’ long track record of safety, this should not come as a surprise. Railroads in the United States have been moving products considered hazardous for more than 150 years. They have been moving flammable, non-flammable, refrigerated, and poisonous compressed gases—some which are similar to LNG—for more than 80 years. Furthermore, the railroad industry, tank car builders, chemical and petroleum producers, and the federal government (most notably PHMSA, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and National Transportation Safety Board) work continually to improve tank car safety.

How do I know this? Because I was there working with them.

A few months ago, I wrote a post about my time as PHMSA Administrator and how honoured I was to work with the resolute safety professionals at FRA and PHMSA on the design of an improved railroad tank car to transport LNG. That effort brought together an impressive cross-functional team with proven experience and deep knowledge in rail operations, tank car construction, and the physical properties of LNG. The result was yet another step forward in the ongoing evolution of tank car safety in the form of a tank car ideally suited to transport LNG. Kudos to the engineering staff at FRA, who conducted fullscale tank car impact tests to prove the tank car’s efficacy at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Again, facts do not lie: this is an incredibly strong and safe tank car standard that requires, among other safety features, a thicker normalised steel outer shell providing even greater puncture resistance. To allege a flawed safety assessment by this deeply knowledgeable joint government agency team is ludicrous.

Those who oppose the transportation of LNG by rail are out of their league if they try to challenge the laudable safety record of the US freight rail industry and/or the tremen-4

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‘A’ or ‘B’ end of the LNG tank car?

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dous knowledge, experience, and unwavering commitment to safety displayed by the team of federal employees at PHMSA and FRA who worked tirelessly on the LNG by rail rule.

During my 40-years in the freight rail industry I was taught to be fact based. Accordingly, it is difficult for me to sit idly by and tolerate the hyperbole being slung by those that do not even know the difference between the ‘A’ and ‘B’ end of a railroad tank car. I am also sure that they have not spent the time to learn the true facts behind the US rail freight industry’s high-

FACT: A team of dedicated subject matter experts from PHMSA and FRA spent thousands of person-hours developing a new rulemaking and designing an enhanced tank car to transport LNG by rail. SAFETY was always at the forefront of their work.

ly commendable and proven safety record nor the dedication and commitment to safety by the FRA and PHMSA public servants who developed the LNG by rail rule and designed a tank car of unquestionable safety design.

But in the current environment, it is not about facts. Regarding PHMSA’s decision to suspend its own LNG by rail rule-making, it was done at the direction of the current administration for political reasons and was certainly not based on facts or reason. The current administration seems determined to put a choke hold on the transportation of fossil fuel energy products. Remember the Keystone XL pipeline?

Not only is this a crusade against logic and fact, but it is also an unfair and inexcusable insult to the many hardworking employees at PHMSA and the FRA who spent hours developing the LNG by rail rule with safety always at the forefront of their work.

If there must be opposition to moving LNG by rail in the United States, those stating their case should be upfront about their real motivations.

If their opposition is based on an inherent anti-fossil fuel position, so be it. Their transparency would at least allow the public to engage the issue on its merits. Frankly, I think the energy supply problem faced by northeastern US states—which sometimes receive their LNG by ship from Russia—would make the current administration’s case quite difficult to make.

But they should not try to conjure up support by using scare tactics and making statements that simply are not true.

The safety record of the US freight rail industry and the thoughtful and sound work of many career employees at FRA and PHMSA should not be unjustly challenged or slandered.

UNITED STATES Building on its commitment to sustainability and its leading presence in the North American boxcar market, GATX will receive 1,500 new boxcars to begin delivery in 2022. With this order, the lessor’s North American boxcar fleet will consist of over 14,000 cars, including more than 5,000 modern Plate F high-capacity boxcars.

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Italy Direct and Austria Direct takes the bridge route via Denmark SWEDEN From the start of the year, Green Cargo changed the production method for its international block train routes Italy Direct and Austria Direct. Transports to Austria and Italy are now operated via Denmark instead of via the train ferry route between Trelleborg and Rostock.

“Through this change, we simplify our production, reduce our costs, wagon utilisation and can eventually shorten transport times,” says Richard Kirchner, Marketing Director at Green Cargo.

Italy Direct, which has been run two to three times a week via the Trelleborg-Rostock train ferry route, has been run via

Denmark since January 3 with unchanged frequency.

Austria Direct now runs via Denmark and Rheinkamp outside Moers in the Ruhr area for connecting and disconnecting wagons. Rheinkamp has been chosen because of the possibility of producing Austria Direct in combination with other block trains, for example, Belgium Direct allowing more flexibility.

The line runs unchanged at the moment with two to three roundtrips per week.

“With the rescheduling of Austria Direct, we are opening up new opportunities for rail freight between Belgium, France and western Germany to and from Sweden,” says Richard Kirchner.

New York announces multi-million investment in rail freight UNITED STATES New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $76.4 million in funding for 38 projects to renew and modernise New York’s freight rail infrastructure. These 100% statefunded grants complement the more than $100 million annually in private infrastructure investments made in New York by the freight rail industry. Strategic investments in freight rail improvements are essential for maintaining and enhancing market access for manufacturing and agricultural businesses across the State, including Alcoa in the North Country Region, Corning in the Southern Tier Region, and Lackawanna Products in the Western New York Region.

“The infrastructure projects funded with these grants will further fuel our economic comeback with new construction

jobs, while making regional economies more competitive in the long term and enhancing the movement of commodities in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Governor Hochul.

“As New York leads the nation in its efforts to combat climate change, we will continue to prioritise funding for initiatives that promote economic growth in a responsible manner while mitigating threats to our environment.”

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, supports investments that enhance the safe movement of freight goods, improves service reliability to retain and grow manufacturing jobs, and supports economic development, especially upstate.

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BECAUSE NOT ALL FREIGHT ON A TRAIN MOVES IN A BOX

visit: tankcontainermedia.com

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THE TRAIN IN SPAIN RUNS MAINLY TO THE PORT OF SEVILLE SPAIN Adif, a public business attached to the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, has put out to tender the construction of a new €22.7 million railway access to the Port of Seville. Work is expected to take 12 months.

This project will be carried out within the framework of the agreement signed in 2017 by Puertos del Estado, Adif and the Port Authority of Seville (APS), and will be financed by the Port Terrestrial Accessibility Financial Fund.

The new line will provide direct access to the Port of Seville, avoiding the passage and reversal manoeuvres that are currently necessary at the stations of La Salud, Dos Hermanas or Utrera.

The strategic plan will allow rail transport to reduce train passage times by around 150 minutes.

Multimodal enclave and main node

As an inland seaport, the Port of Seville has trains connecting with Madrid, Bilbao, Extremadura, Córdoba, Valencia and Sines. It is a multimodal location, being the main node of the Basic Network (Core Network), part of the Mediterranean corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). In its 850 ha, the port has connections between ship, train and truck with tracks integrated within the public port domain to increase the competitiveness of freight transport.

There is a railway ring that surrounds the entire perimeter of the port, facilitating land transport between the maritime terminals and public docks. It is connected to the main traffic routes in the south of the peninsula and has a rail terminal integrated with the container wharf that can serve trains of up to 750m in length.

The new rail access to the Port of Seville will be equipped with a 2,485m track, directly from the La Negrilla line, accessing the port without having to go through the La Salud station. The platform will have a width of 8.2m, except for the section in which it shares a platform with the future south closure of the Seville Commuter Ring, where the width will be 12.6m. The superstructure is built on a ballast bench.

Although this branch is not electrified, the design of the standard section will allow in the future, if it is considered necessary, its electrification without any problems. The tendered contract does not cover actions related to security and com-

munications installations, which must be the subject of another specific project.

Route of the new access

The new access will connect the current branch to the Port of Seville next to the east abutment of the bridge that serves the branch to pass over the Guadaíra River and with the odd road or east road of the La Negrilla variant, about 4 km south of Negrilla station.

The first 1,000m will be carried out on the same foundation that will be occupied in the future by the splitting of the south closure of the Cercanías Ring Road in the city of Seville.

The track is then diverted to its own independent foundation and will cross the Seville-Cádiz line on a viaduct, which will run parallel to the current rail access to the port, to the north of it, up to Avenida de Jerez.

From this point, the new access will continue until it ends at the east abutment of the railway bridge over the Guadaíra River. The construction project for the new line also involves the dismantling of the existing line to adapt its tracks and electrification facilities to the new situation.

Also included in the project is the construction of the service roads necessary for the maintenance of the line and the installation of enclosures on both sides of the permanent way.

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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DRS secures supermarket contract

UNITED KINGDOM Direct Rail Services (DRS) has extended its partnership with the UK’s biggest supermarket chain. Nuclear Transport Solutions’ rail division has signed a new three-year deal with supermarket giant Tesco in a deal which will see DRS continue to supply, and expand, rail operations across the country in their established partnership.

Chris Connelly, NTS Deputy CEO and Rail Director, said: “This is fantastic news and is a testament to the long-standing relationship we have with Tesco, built over the last 10 years, and the excellent service we provide for our customers.

“The environmental and socioeconomic benefits of using rail are well proven and we are thrilled to be working with Tesco for at least another three years.

“We’ll be maximising the use of our state-of-the-art Class 88 locomotives to move up to 76 HGVs worth of goods hundreds of miles and, when running on overhead electricity, with zero exhaust emissions.

“Recently, we launched Tesco’s first refrigerated rail freight service, using the Class 88 locomotives, taking at least 17,000 containers off the road each year, saving 7.3 million road miles and nearly 9,000 tonnes of CO2e.

“We’ve also been working with Tesco to trial diesel fuel alternatives which eliminate up to 90% of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e), opening up 62% of the rail network, which doesn’t benefit from overhead electricity, to extremely low CO2 rail freight.

“Every month we transport around 12,000 containers travelling thousands of miles safely, securely and reliably to ensure shelves are stocked all year round across Great Britain and I can’t wait to see what the next few years will bring.”

DRS, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), will run services between – = Daventry to Mossend

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= Mossend to Teesport = Daventry to Tilbury x 2 = Tilbury to Coatbridge = Daventry to Wentloog = Daventry to Teesport via Doncaster = Mossend to Inverness David Peattie, NDA CEO, said: “This is wonderful news for Direct Rail Services, as part of Nuclear Transport Solutions and the commercial activities of the NDA group. The new partnership, to offer rail operations for Tesco, is testament to the world-leading expertise of our transport subsidiary NTS. It also affirms the NDA group’s commitment to supporting our carbon net-zero ambitions.”

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ROLA: 10-year high on the Brenner axis AUSTRIA ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has broken a 10-year record with the Rolling Road (ROLA) on the Brenner axis.

Last year, more than 160,000 trucks were transported in 2021, a new high.

That is the highest total in ten years – the last time there were more was in 2011.

With ROLA, complete trucks can cover parts of their route by rail, while the truck drivers travel comfortably in their own accompanying vehicle. In 2021, the RCG transported trucks on the Brenner axis (Wörgl–Brenner and Wörgl–Trento).

ROLA makes a significant contribution to transit shift and climate protection. Each ROLA trip Wörgl–Brenner, for example, is 35 times more environmentally friendly than a trip on the road.

DAVIES TURNER SEES IMPROVED CHINA RAIL UNITED KINGDOM Following a difficult 2021, where soaring rail demand created by the extreme air and ocean freight difficulties contributed to operational congestion and delays, Davies Turner reports that its Express China rail freight service is getting back on track.

Launched in 2018, the operation remains the only direct weekly intermodal consolidation service between China and UK. Tony Cole, Davies Turner’s Head of Ocean comments: “Over the last month, we have seen improved rail transit times as a result of more timely departures from China. Furthermore, our initiative to truck containers under bond direct from the rail hub in Poland to our UK depots, which offers the fastest and most reliable route, has also helped to improve operations.

“Based on the arrivals into the UK over the last four weeks, the dedicated rail service is achieving an average 29day transit time from departure in Wuhan to arrival at our UK depots.”

On departure from Wuhan, China, the rail service heads direct to Malasze-

wicze in Poland. Containers are then trucked under bond to Dunkirk for transport by ferry to Dover, then on-carried by truck (still secure in the same container) to Davies Turner’s regional distribution centres across the UK, where they are discharged, Customs cleared and delivered to final destination.

Cole concludes: “With an improved transit time from China to the UK, following last year’s operational difficulties, our direct weekly Express China Rail service for consol traffic continues to offer a reliable and much faster service versus the all-ocean alternative from ports on China’s North Eastern and

Eastern coasts.”

Davies Turner says that rail has always proved to be a significantly cheaper freight option compared to air and with the current historically high ocean freight rates, it is also a competitive alternative to ocean.

As one of the UK’s largest independent freight forwarding and logistics companies, in conjunction with Air Sea Transport, its long established partner in China, Davies Turner now has many years of experience in providing direct rail consol services between China and the UK. PHOTO: ZhengZhou

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US carloads Rio Tinto orders Wabtec set records FLXdrive battery in 2021 locomotives Down Under UNITED STATES Despite many of the challenges that 2021 presented to the American economy, and the supply chain in particular, freight railroads kept goods flowing. Over the course of 2021, total US carload traffic for the year was up 6.6% from the same period last year; and intermodal was up 4.9% from last year.

“For most categories, rail traffic in 2021 was substantially higher than in 2020,” said AAR Policy & Economics Senior Vice President John Gray. “On the carload side, chemicals set a new annual record and grain had its best year since 2008.

“Coal carloads were up substantially because of sharply higher natural gas prices, while carloads of motor vehicles suffered as microchip shortages forced automakers to cut output. For intermodal, a record-setting first half gave way to a lower second half as supply chain challenges persisted. Still, 2021 was the second-best US intermodal year ever, behind only 2018.”

Safety and capacity on track With regulatory matters before the Surface Transportation Board, the Federal Railroad Administration and other government agencies looks at how railroads can continue delivering for America.

“With the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure package, freight railroads look forward to working with federal partners at the Department of Transportation on projects that enhance long-term competitiveness and bolster safety,” AAR Senior Director of Media Relations Jessica Kahanek said.

“Technology has created significant, demonstrated safety gains and the industry must be able to continue building on those successes.”

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AUSTRALIA Wabtec and Rio Tinto have inked an order for four FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives to support sustainable operations of the mining company’s rail network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The 100% battery-powered locomotive will help efforts to achieve a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030.

“Our partnership with Wabtec is an investment in innovation and an acknowledgment of the need to increase the pace of our decarbonisation efforts,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore Managing Director of Port, Rail and Core Services Richard Cohen. “By locking this in now, we are making progress in our efforts to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50%.”

Rio Tinto ordered the newest version of the FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive, which features an energy capacity of 7 megawatt-hours (MWh). Based on the route from the mine to the port at Dampier in Western Australia and Rio Tinto’s mainline rail operations, the FLXdrive is anticipated to reduce the company’s fuel costs and emissions in percentage by double digits per train.

“The FLXdrive is ideally suited to support Rio Tinto’s sustainability targets for their Pilbara system,” said Rogerio Mendonca, President of Freight Equipment for Wabtec.

“This locomotive provides the tractive effort, fuel savings, and emissions reductions to cost-effectively run rail networks in the mining industry. The rapid adoption of the FLXdrive by Rio Tinto and other mining operators demonstrates the industry’s commitment to decarbonising their operations. This solution represents a major step toward achieving zero-emission locomotive fleets in the future.”

Wabtec will deliver the FLXdrive battery locomotives to Rio Tinto in 2023. The mining company plans on using the locomotives in multiple applications including as a shunter in the railyard and ultimately in mainline service. In mainline operations, Rio Tinto currently uses three diesel-electric locomotives in a consist to pull trains with 240 cars hauling about 28,000 tonnes of iron ore. The FLXdrives will transition from the diesel locomotives in mainline service to form a hybrid consist, and recharge during the trip through regenerative braking and at charging stations. Wabtec’s next generation energy-management software system will determine the optimal times to discharge and recharge the batteries along the route ensuring the most fuel-efficient operation of the entire locomotive consist during the trip.

“Rio Tinto is a progressive leader in the mining industry adopting advanced technologies necessary to drive sustainable, efficient operations that deliver results for its customers, shareholders, and communities,” said Wendy McMillan, Regional Senior Vice President South East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for Wabtec.

“We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Rio Tinto and support their efforts to reduce emissions and operating costs with the FLXdrive battery locomotive.”

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NEW ROUTE TO SCANDINAVIA

AUSTRIA ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is optimising the TransFER for wagonloads between Austria and Scandinavia. From the beginning of the year, freight is transported from Linz via Rheinkamp (near Duisburg) to Malmö on the sustainable rail. The return trip goes to Wels.

The TransFER Linz–Scandinavia–Wels for wagonloads now shares the route with the TransFER Linz–Duisburg–Wels route. In the course of the operational consolidation of the connections, the weekly round trips between Linz and Rheinkamp near Duisburg and to Wels were increased from five to six – two of which continue from Rheinkamp by rail via Maschen to Denmark and the Öresund Bridge to Malmö. Transports to and from the Vienna central marshalling yard are still possible with TransFER combinations.

Direct connection to Scandinavia

Due to its geographical location, Malmö plays an important role for a sustainable European transport network. The new route eliminates the need to reload onto ship to reach the port region of southern Sweden. With the TransFER Linz–Scandinavia– Wels route, RCG creates a reliable and safe transport solution in the Scandinavian area with further connection options in Northern and Western Europe. In addition, Rheinkamp offers the option of adding quantities to Scandinavia or distributing quantities from Scandinavia in Germany and to France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

NEWS REVIEW EUROGATE Intermodal rebrands Floyd HUNGARY Intermodal GmbH, Hamburg-based provider of combined transport by rail and road, has revealed Floyd Zrt., its Hungarian rail subsidiary, will begin operating under the new name EUROGATE Rail Hungary.

Customers and partners will experience no product or personnel changes when conducting business with the Hungarian rail company under its new identity.

Christopher Beplat, EGIM Managing Director, explains: “By rebranding Floyd as EUROGATE Rail Hungary, we are creating more transparency in the market and solidifying our portfolio of international intermodal products. This decision is another reflection of our continued commitment to simplifying rail connectivity across borders.”

Based in Budapest, EUROGATE Rail Hungary offers rail freight transport connections across Hungary, Austria and Germany.

RECORD-BREAKING INDIAN FREIGHT TRAIN INDIA Indian news website Mint reported that Indian Railways’ South Eastern Central Railway (SECR) created a record when it operated the longest freight train on the Indian Railways network.

The train was 3.5 km (2 miles) in length. The train was named Vasuki. The distance between Bhilai to Korba is 224 km (140 miles).

“SECR Raipur division for the first time amalgamated five rakes of freight coaches from Bhilai D Cabin till Korba which falls under the Bilaspur division,” according to a statement by the railway quoted on the website.

A record-breaking BHP ore train in Australia of 682 cars and 7.3 km (4.5 miles) long, carried 82,000 tonnes of ore for a total weight of the train of 99,734 tonnes. It was powered by eight locomotives distributed along its length to keep the coupling loads and curve performance controllable.

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Alabama-USA Corridor launched Phase one will benefit Port of Mobile, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby and Washington/Mobile counties UNITED STATES Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has revealed the creation of the A-USA Corridor, a proposed $231.6 million programme of rail projects to upgrade economic development infrastructure in central and southern Alabama.

“Working together with the Port in Mobile to build out our infrastructure to move the commerce for Alabama and the greater southeastern region of the country must be one of our top priorities,” said Governor Ivey. “Creating good port access to central Alabama is a key part of this initiative, and it can provide options for freight containers to reach new destinations inland, which our country has struggled with during the supply chain crisis. I am proud our state is looking ahead and investing in the Alabama-USA Corridor and the future jobs and economic opportunity it will bring.”

The first phase of the A-USA Corridor initiative involves a $71.6 million initiative to link the Port of Mobile with the McCalla Intermodal Facility near Birmingham. This 280 mile (450 km) corridor will also link mega economic development sites in Etowah, Little Canoe Creek; Shelby, Calera; and Washington/ Mobile, Calvert, each totalling more than 1,000 acres (404 ha). A fourth site in Jefferson County, McCalla, will see the development of a 104-acre site with up to a million square-feet of warehousing under one roof.

The Growing Alabama Tax Credit programme has helped expedite the work required to make these sites immediately available for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. To that end, Norfolk Southern has already partnered with the state and local economic development authorities by investing $5.7 million to the Etowah County Commission for improvements to the Little Canoe Creek site.

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A critical component in the growth and success of the Port and these mega sites is efficient transportation access.

While each of the sites are near major interstate highways, modern and efficient freight and intermodal rail infrastructure is necessary to meet the port’s rapid growth and the region’s economic expansion needs. Phase One of the A-USA Corridor project involves 12 track, signal and yard improvements on Norfolk Southern rail lines between Mobile, Selma and Birmingham.

Vital project

“The Alabama Port Authority welcomes this vital project as we address rapid growth in the port’s container intermodal and freight business lines,” said John C. Driscoll, Director And Chief Executive Officer. “The Norfolk Southern rail improvements will bolster capacity, reliability, and market access through the Port of Mobile for regional supply chains.”

According to a recent economic impact report prepared by staff at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, from 2000 to 2020 the A-USA Corridor provided new and

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expanded economic development investments totalling $14.3 billion with 20,498 jobs in Alabama. During the construction phases of the project the A-USA Corridor which will create positive economic benefits for Alabama of $497.2 million in gross business activity, including $184.8 million in earnings to 4,247 direct and indirect Alabama workers.

The A-USA Corridor is a true public-private partnership, with Norfolk Southern funding more than 50% of the project. Alabama is investing $5 million into the project, with the remainder coming from present and future federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI) grants through the Alabama Department of Transportation, in partnership with Norfolk Southern.

“The A-USA Corridor is an innovative public-private partnership that will strengthen the nation’s supply chain at a critical time and boost the regional economy,” said Alan Shaw, president of Norfolk Southern. “We look forward to working with Governor Ivey and the Port of Mobile to make the A-USA Corridor an engine for job creation in Alabama for years to come.”

NEWS REVIEW

€6M ADIF FREIGHT CAR VARIABLE GAUGE AXLE PROJECT SECURES EU FUNDS Allowing the automatic change of wagon track gauge without the need to transship the load or exchange axles of different gauge SPAIN Adif, a public business attached to the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, is advancing its Mercave - Automatic Variable Width System For Traffic Of Goods By Rail - project. This is for a variable gauge axle for freight rolling stock with R + D + i (Research, Development and Innovation) activities, manufacturing, supplies and commissioning of the axles, for an amount of €5.97 million and with an execution period of 24 months.

The contract, awarded to TRIA Transport Engineering and Technology, foresees the manufacture, supply and testing of the new evolved axles for a large wheel (920 mm in diameter) and a small wheel (760 mm in diameter).

The tests will be carried out with wagons for Adif’s own use, such as snow plough wagons and ballast hoppers, which will constitute the necessary R & D + i testing framework.

The axles will be installed on Adif freight wagons for the operational commercial validation tests and their maintenance until the end of the test period, June 30, 2023.

The publication of the tender for the innovative purchase takes place after conducting a preliminary consultation of the market.

The Goods 30 initiative of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, which seeks to increase the share of the transport of goods by rail, provides for the granting of aid to private, public and/or railway service providers for the installation variable width shafts.

Increased competitiveness

The automatic variable gauge system project is an initiative of Adif to enhance the competitiveness of the transport of goods by rail, which is hampered by the technical barrier posed by the difference in width between the Spanish railway network (Iberian gauge) and the rest of Europe (standard gauge).

This difficulty of a technical nature, together with other circumstances such as the existing orography, means that the modal share of rail freight transport in Spain is well below that of the neigh-

bouring countries. Currently, it barely reaches 2% in net tonnes and 4.5% in tonne-kilometres.

The development of the variable gauge axle system has its precedent in the contract awarded by Adif in 2015 to the joint venture formed by Azvi and TRIA, which included the manufacture of ten axles of two types - five for 920 mm wheels and five for wheels diametre 760 mm as well as the construction and installation of a gauge changer with this technology at Adif’s maintenance base in La Gineta, Albacete.

The system solves the problem of the existence of networks with different track gauges. A freight wagon equipped with this movable running axle can circulate through the different existing borders with different track gauges, as the axle performs the automatic gauge change, thus eliminating load break points. In this way, the travel times of the goods will be shortened and the associated economic cost of exchanging axles of different widths or the transshipment of loads between wagons will be reduced.

Greenbrier signs contract with Wabtec UK for supply of TF25 bogies UNITED KINGDM Greenbrier have awarded Axiom Rail Freight, part of Wabtec UK, a major contract for the supply and manufacture of TF25 bogies.

The £8.2m deal provides bogies to Greenbrier Europe in Romania, for two 102T Box Wagon projects which will be operated in the UK upon completion in 2022. This will also mark the 25th anniversary since the introduction and initial testing of the TF25 bogie, a bogie which has become class leading and the bogie of choice for customers.

Nearly 4,000 wagons in the UK have the TF25 fitted to them whether it is a box, hopper or tank wagon.

Greenbrier have been a huge advocate of the TF25 bogie and other products within the Axiom Rail Freights portfolio, having built over 2,800 wagons for the UK market that utilise the TF25.

A spokesperson says: “Axiom Rail Freight appreciates the continued collaboration and the joint effort to introduce innovative wagons into the UK market.”

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HEINZ MEANZ TRAINZ Francis Freightliner trials potential UK modal shift to rail for Kraft Heinz products ENGLAND The Innovate UK-sponsored Liverpool-Humber Optimisation of Freight Transport (LHOFT) project has been working with partners Kraft Heinz, the University of Hull and Oxford Rail Strategies, to develop an intermodal rail freight solution for the haulage of products from Elst the Netherlands) to the Kraft Heinz national distribution centre at Wigan.

Following consultation with leading UK rail freight operator Freightliner, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) and Network Rail, a trial train was arranged to test and evaluate the feasibility of delivering Kraft Heinz products by rail to Wigan.

Operating overnight, the trial was considered a complete success and Kraft Heinz will now be considering whether to build on the results of the trial going forward.

Forefront “Freightliner is always at the forefront of developing innovative, bespoke solutions to allow more freight to be moved by rail and all the associated environmental pluses that brings,” said Emma Dempsey, CCO for G&W’s UK/Europe Region companies.

“As the largest operator of carbon neutral traction, we are continually developing solutions to deliver decarbonisation targets, working in collaboration with business partners and customers, and we were delighted to be part of the team to trial this potential modal shift to rail”.

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Director of the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute, Amar Ramudhin, said: “The University of Hull is at the forefront of accelerating a net zero future. The collaborative transport modelling and optimisation platform developed by the University’s Logistics Institute is based on academic insight and has played a key role in the LHOFT project, enriching the analysis that is used to visualise, interpret and compare freight movement options. This allows objective evaluation of the freight movement options. For example the Wigan rail route opens up new opportunities for goods owners and service providers to collaborate to develop new, lower carbon transport routes.”

The LHOFT project uniquely brings together key stakeholders in the unitised freight industries with the aim of establishing an East-West freight transport corridor in the north of the UK. This corridor will link Liverpool in the West to the Humber port complex in the East.

The ambition is to reduce UK land transport of 100 million miles (160 million km) of freight transport annually, thus lowering congestion and Co2 emissions. Karla Jakeman Innovation Lead Connected Transport at Innovate UK said: “This is a very positive development of the project. It is always exciting when projects can demonstrate innovation in practice. I am looking forward to watching how this develops in the future.”

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new face of GBRf

UNITED KINGDOM TikTok trainspotting star Francis Bourgeois is a new brand ambassador for GB Railfreight (GBRf).

Throughout 2022, Francis will be sharing his passion and insights for the railway, by showcasing the vital role of rail freight and going behind the scenes at GBRf. Francis first came to GBRf’s attention following his famous video featuring the Class 73/9 locomotive named ‘Dick Mabbutt’, which has now amassed 12 million views on TikTok. Since becoming a platform favourite for his enthusiastic trainspotting videos across the rail network, Francis has amassed over two million followers on TikTok and over one million followers on Instagram. This popularity has earned him appearances on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and collaborations with big names such as Thierry Henry and ASOS. Francis Bourgeois, GB Railfreight brand ambassador, said: “I am so excited to be joining GB Railfreight.

“I have had a lifelong passion for the railway, and I can’t wait to apply this enthusiasm to my ambassadorship at the company.

“I am really looking forward to elevating the world of trains, rail freight, and spreading happiness and joy in general — with GB Railfreight, we will be able to achieve this together.”

NEWS REVIEW

Metrans takes over CL Europort: rail network grows to the east

POLAND The HHLA intermodal company Metrans has taken over the company CL Europort and the logistics centre of the same name in the Polish town of Malaszewicze. The location is near the Belarusian border and is a hub for freight within Central and Eastern Europe and also for Europe-Asia transport. Another strategic partnership was concluded with the rail operator Eurotrans. . The location is only four kilometres from the Terespol railway crossing and eight kilometres from the Koroszczyn road crossing. This stretch of rail is part of the second

pan-European transport corridor Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk, Moscow. The Western European and Russian railway systems meet in Malaszewicze, so it is possible to change the gauge from 1520 mm to 1435 mm. Rail operator Eurotrans, with which Metrans has a strategic partnership, is also active on this transport axis.

“Malaszewicze represents a bridge between the EU member states, Russia and even China,” says Peter Kiss, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Metrans Group. “Our idea for the hub terminal has proven itself and the new terminal will perfectly com-

plement our intermodal network.

A large portion of the international rail transport that goes from here to China already goes via Malaszewicze.

We also want to grow further in this segment through our strategic co-operation with Eurotrans.”

With its rail transport on Belarusian and Russian routes, the rail operator Eurotrans provides an ideal expansion of the Metrans network.

Metrans will use a part of Eurotrans’ capacity to offer new rail products to and from Brest and further east, and to guarantee the quality of existing services.

Wabtec acquires RELCO Locomotives UNITED STATES Wabtec Corporation has acquired RELCO Locomotives, a long-established player in the locomotive overhaul and maintenance industry. The acquisition expands Wabtec’s freight services capabilities and capacity to support growth in the remanufacturing and repair business.

“This acquisition will unlock tremendous value for our customers, employees and shareholders,” said Rafael Santana, Wabtec President and CEO. “The complementary combination of our portfolios will create aftermarket services growth and the development of new, innovative solutions to drive improved asset utilisation and reduced operating cost for customers.”

Pascal Schweitzer, Wabtec’s Group President, Freight Global Services Organisation, added: “Today marks an exciting day for Wabtec’s services business and will further strengthen our portfolio.

“By leveraging Wabtec’s robust remote monitoring and diagnostics and predictive maintenance capabilities, as well as our focus on lean continuous improvement, we will build upon RELCO’s deep product offering, track record of service quality and engineering creativity for locomotive modernisations. We are excited at the long-term opportunities before us and are pleased to welcome Mark Bachman and the RELCO team to the Wabtec family.”

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NEWS REVIEW

CargoBeamer expands lane between Kaldenkirchen and Perpignan

GERMANY This month, the logistics service provider CargoBeamer is expanding its intermodal network launched at the start of the year between Kaldenkirchen, Germany and Perpignan near the French-Spanish border. The patented CargoBeamer system enables semitrailers, containers, P400 trailers, refrigerated and tank trailers to be transported without requiring any additional conversions for forwarders.

At the start in January, initially three trains were run weekly in each direction. From mid-February, the frequency has been increased permanently to five round trips per week. CargoBeamer will collaborate with DB Cargo France (formerly Euro Cargo Rail) as its traction partner. The new route is the company’s sixth connection overall, with five of the six lines having been added to the network in the past seven months.

Strengthening established hubs

CargoBeamer is already active at both locations with further routes. From Kaldenkirchen, the company’s first connection to Domodossola has been operated since 2015, with the economically strong region in western Germany and proximity to the Belgian and Dutch markets ensuring consistently high utilisation rates. In Perpignan in southern France, CargoBeamer has been operating a route to Calais near the English Channel since summer 2021. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for onward maritime transport from Perpignan as well as the extension of transport routes to Spain.

Matthias Schadler, Managing Director of CargoBeamer intermodal operations, says: “With the expansion of the service in Perpignan, we not only serve the southern French market, but also position ourselves in the direction of northern Spain with the strong transport region around Barcelona. Furthermore, the addition of another route is also an important step forward for the location of Kaldenkirchen, where we plan to start constructing our own transshipment terminal soon.”

Another day on the iron road, another early, early start for Karl Davies, The Train Man! Karl tells FT that this was the 6M48 (0145 Immingham Humber International Terminal Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station) waiting patiently for departure at Immingham, headed by veteran locomotive 66787 (from her previous incarnation as DB Cargo 66184).

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NEWS REVIEW In the sidings ...

NEW ZEALAND At the end of 2021, Stadler and KiwiRail signed a longterm framework agreement for the supply of 57 diesel mainline locomotives. The order value amounts to around €28 million. This is Stadler’s first contract in New Zealand.

KiwiRail is a New Zealand government state-owned enterprise, which is responsible for New Zealand’s national rail network, and operates New Zealand rail freight and between-island ferry services.

EUROPE United States-based Tideworks Technology, a full-service provider of comprehensive terminal operating system (TOS) solutions, has installed its Intermodal Pro and Traffic Control at multiple G&W UK terminal operations.

The latest deployments at G&W’s UK terminals, owned and operated by Freightliner in Cardiff and Birmingham, include integration with Advent eModal’s vehicle booking system and Camco Technologies’ gate management system.

Tideworks Intermodal Pro and Traffic Control solutions are in use at a total of seven Freightliner terminals and are on course to go live at the remaining G&W UK terminals in early 2022.

ic:kurier shipments within Germany are climate-neutral GERMANY Deutsche Bahn’s ICE, IC and EC trains that are transporting time:matters ic:kurier shipments within Germany already run on 100% green power. What’s new, however, is that the carbon emissions associated with the first and last mile transport of these shipments in Germany were offset from November onwards. Since late 2019, time:matters has offset all of the CO2 emissions relating to its airmates On Board Courier service. With this latest innovation, the company is now setting the next important milestone in its sustainability initiative.

Network

The ic:kurier service allows shipments to be transported in a simple, fast, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner by rail both within Germany and also to and from Amsterdam, Basel, Paris and Vienna. In Germany alone, the network incorporates more than 100 stations and represents an eco-friendly alternative to direct delivery.

Customers can use the time:matters booking page to submit transport

NORTH AMERICA In November, Union Pacific Railroad was named a 2021 Gold Medallion recipient by the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, a US Department of Labor initiative that supports the hiring and retention of United States military veterans.

The award marks and honours Union Pacific’s “exceptional achievement” in recruiting, hiring and recognising the value that US military veterans bring to the workplace.

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requests for ic:kurier shipments with just a few clicks and without time-consuming registration. These requests are quoted in real time and can be booked immediately. This service is targeted at industry customers in the life and health and other sectors, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and private individuals alike.

“The environmentally-friendly CO2 compensation of all last and first mile transfers of ic:kurier shipments within Germany represents our next consistent step towards a sustainable, innovative transport portfolio. We are also working with our partners on further projects aimed at reducing our carbon footprint,” commented Lars Krosch, COO of time:matters.

“There is increasing demand for environmentally responsible transport solutions among our customers as well.

In addition to speed and reliability, sustainability has become an important requirement for supply chains.”

NEWS REVIEW

CP signs multi-year contract extension with Canadian Tire CANADA Canadian Pacific (CP) and leading Canadian consumer retailer Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) have agreed a multi-year agreement to continue moving the retailer’s goods in Canada.

“CP is proud to continue our near-century-long commercial relationship with Canadian Tire, another iconic Canadian brand,” said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. “As the single largest container importer in Canada, CTC will benefit from CP’s leading service, reliability and network capacity across Canada.”

To support the efficient movement of CTC’s goods and reduce carbon emissions, CP will begin directly serving Ashcroft Terminal in Ashcroft, BC, reducing the need to shift volumes to truck.

End freight operations north of Watsonville UNITED STATES An impassioned reader’s letter to the Santa Cruz Sentinel has championed the removal of freight activity along a rail trail.

David Date of La Selva Beach, California wrote to the editor: “A new voice and perspective is welcome to the rail trail debate! Nisene-Rio-Gateway has entered the fray, seeking a compromise between deeply entrenched interests behind the trail or train. Their idea is to leave the rails, but build an interim trail ASAP. “The only problem is that the entirety of our rail corridor has been locked up in a decades-long freight agreement with tourist train operator Roaring Camp.

This was designed to buy time for a future train and ensure that nothing is done with the dilapidated rails north of Watsonville.

“No one in Santa Cruz seriously supports continued freight operations at the expense of near-term transportation solutions.

“We are calling on Roaring Camp to formally abandon freight operations north of Watsonville so that the RTC can proceed with rail-banking and quickly implement whatever is decided by county voters this June.”

“CP has been one of our most trusted and long-standing partners, and played an important role in the company’s early growth.

As we embark on our 100th year in business, we are pleased to continue working together with CP to ensure our products move efficiently across the country to meet our customers’ needs,” said Greg Hicks, Canadian Tire Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our commitment to operate as a sustainable Canadian brand aligns to CP’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating efficiencies in the supply chain, and we look forward to collaborating on further initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in Canada.”

The agreement builds on the more than 90 years of shared successes the companies have had servicing CTC’s dealer and corporate stores. Furthermore, it establishes the ability for CTC to explore sourcing and optionality opportunities with CP’s extensive network reach.

60’ container launch

Five years ago, the railway and retailer worked together to deploy North America’s first 60-foot intermodal container for use by the retailer. The container served as an intermodal solution to increase productivity and efficiency. The increased size – an additional seven feet from then-current 53-foot containers – allowed Canadian Tire and CP to transport more products to increase the volume of products shipped in each container, while reducing transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Canadian Tire has one of the largest transportation networks in the country, moving more than 100,000 different types of products to 500 stores from coast-to-coast. Our supply chain infrastructure is one of the most modern in Canada, capable of supporting growth and efficiently managing the increasing number of products we transport,” said Neil McKenna, Vice-President, Transportation, Canadian Tire at their unveiling.

CP has collaborated with Canadian Tire on innovative projects before, including the introduction of the first 53-foot intermodal container in 1994.

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NEWS REVIEW In the sidings ...

NORTH AMERICA Amtrak and Canadian Pacific have announced an agreement with Amtrak supporting the proposed combination of CP and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railways.

“CP has been an excellent host of Amtrak intercity passenger service year after year and has established itself as a leader in the railroad industry,” said Stephen J Gardner, Amtrak President. “We welcome CP’s commitment to our efforts with states and others to expand Amtrak service and are pleased to have reached an agreement formalising CP’s support of Amtrak expansion in the Midwest and the South.

NORTH AMERICA In December, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued two Security Directives that mandate cybersecurity actions by passenger railroads and rail transit agencies and freight railroads, respectively. Since Secretary Mayorkas’ October announcement that TSA would issue such directives, AAR and the rail industry have had productive consultations with agency officials to revise provisions that would have posed challenges in implementation.

“For the better part of two decades, railroads have thoughtfully co-ordinated with each other and government officials to enhance information security, which has proven to be an effective, responsive way of addressing evolving threats,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies.

“Let there be no mistake — railroads take these threats seriously and value our productive work with government partners to keep the network safe.”

Every Class I freight railroad have chief information security officers and cybersecurity leads who will serve as the required Cybersecurity Co-ordinators.

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Ribbon cutting at new Corpus Christi area Savage Gulf Rail facility

UNITED STATES The ribbon has been cut and the massive rail yard in San Patricio County at the doorstep of Corpus Christi is open for business. The ribbon-cutting opened the Savage Gulf Rail Facility, that boasts 36 miles (58 km) of track, a rail car wash facility, a rail car repair shop, a rail serving yard and a rail storage-in-transit (SIT) yard.

From conception to ribbon-cutting, Union Pacific, ExxonMobil, SABIC and Savage Gulf Rail worked closely to put together infrastructure plans for this logistics centre.

Plastics

The Savage Gulf Rail Facility will support the multibillion-dollar Gulf Coast Growth Ventures plastics manufacturing facility, a new joint venture between ExxonMobil and SABIC just north of Gregory, Texas. Union Pacific will provide rail connectivity, exclusively moving freight to and from the facility year-round.

“Robin Ringwald, manager Industrial Development, Marketing and Sales, spearheaded the rail design process on behalf of Union Pacific to ensure the new site met UP’s Engineering and Operating needs,” said Marty Russell, general director Sales, Marketing and Sales, and ExxonMobil account lead. “We col-

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

laborated closely with our key partners to ensure we had a superior marketing and operating plan in place to execute this new business.”

The joint venture will generate an estimated 15,000 annual carloads of plastics materials, such as monoethylene glycol and polyethylene.

“Superintendent Train Operations Michael Everhart and Senior Manager-Train Operations Robert Vega worked closely with Savage’s rail team, advising them on the most efficient ways to drop, block and pull from the facility to support a seamless transportation plan,” Russell said.

The facility, from rail design and development process to completion, took over three years to build out.

NEWS REVIEW

RAIL FREIGHT IN THE LONE STAR STATE

By Peter J Lecody, President, Texas Rail Advocates

UNITED STATES They are called railserved hubs, industrial rail parks, economic development opportunity zones among other names and have been popping up all over Texas.

Many small- to medium-size towns and cities in Texas are finding a way to attract business and create jobs, by creating freight rail parks to serve a myriad of companies.

These rail-centred facilities are creating new economic development engines for the communities they serve.

From the plains of West Texas to the Gulf Coast shores these freight rail parks have the land, incentives and facilities to attract new rail shippers to the Lone Star State.

RCR Taylor Logistics Park opened in 2020 in Taylor, Texas outside of Austin.

Located in an “Opportunity Zone” in a town of 17,000, the rail facility offers build-to-suit sites for manufacturing, distribution and logistics with tracks that

can go right up to a company loading dock. The rail park is served by two Class 1 railroads, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway.

By building outside of major metropolitan areas these industrial rail parks are taking advantage of lower land costs and many work with Economic Development Agencies, offering incentives to attract a wide range of rail shippers. Many have rail-served properties that border major highways and interstate routes for convenient rail-to-truck last-mile handoffs.

Midway

Central Pointe Rail Park, owned by the City of Temple, Texas is spread over 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) and hosts more than 50 tenants. It is located midway between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and offers rail service, utilities, developed streets, its own fire station, airport

and medical centre.

Ten miles (16 km) of rail line within the rail park are served by Temple and Central Texas Railway, a short line operator.

The Class 1 railroads favour railserved hubs like those in Taylor and Temple because they are relieved of the responsibility of switching just a handful of freight cars at a time.

That chore falls to the short lines and local operators to supply the motive power and work with rail-served tenants to offer personalised rail park to main line shipping service.

These rail-served centres can provide transloading facilities, organise unit trains, develop manifest services and even provide rail car storage facilities.

Smaller communities in Texas have been losing population to larger urban areas for several decades. Rail-served industrial parks may be a way to turn a small-town negative into a positive.

Coal transported to Mělník in Innos

CZECH REPUBLIC On 1 January 2022, routine transports of brown coal to the Mělník I power plant started using the Innofreight technology. A stationary unloading device was built in the power plant; shunting of the wagons is, just like in the Chvaletice power plant, ensured by a robotic shifter.

Instead of the Falls hopper wagons, InnoWaggons of the Sggrrs series with MonTainer superstructures will be used on the route from northern Bohemia to the Hněvice station. Deployment of the new technology will significantly increase the efficiency of these transports.

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NEWS REVIEW

DAC update: Field test of the digital automatic coupling AUSTRIA Since September 2020, prototypes of the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) have been put through their paces in Germany as part of a project commissioned and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV). It was designed to revolutionise rail freight transport and make it faster, more efficient and safer. It’s considered a milestone and plays an important role in attaining climate targets. We’re talking about the Digital Automatic Coupling – or DAC for short. By 2030 it will be gradually replacing conventional screw couplings in Europe.

In summer 2021, technical testing of the prototypes of four different manufacturers were completed as part of the pilot project DAC4EU. Based on these test results, the coupling head was selected as part of a European assessment. Since September, the selected coupling type (Scharfenberg Design) has been examined closely at various test sites in Germany. How are wagons disconnected at the marshalling hump?

Are the processes with the DAC as we imagined? What about electricity and data from the test runs? All these are questions which were examined closely. RCG staff were also present during the tests at the marshalling hump in Munich.

Currently, prototypes of two manufacturers – Voith and Dellner – are being tested following a decision within the European DAC Delivery Program (EDDP). The test consortium hopes the test results will particularly provide information about the system – for instance weak spots or what still needs to be improved and advanced.

Barbara Lunzer (RCG), Philipp Wagenknecht (RCG),Wolfgang Reissner (ÖBB Technische Services) and Manuel Rapold

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(RCG) at the DAC operational test in Germany.

DAC coming to Austria By the way, the DAC will soon also be coming to Austria.

In February 2022 the so-called “DAC Demo Train” from the DAC4EU project will be stopping at several Austrian train stations and private sidings and be tested extensively. We hope this will also provide information about using the DAC in winter conditions.

The DAC4EU consortium, consisting of the consortium leader DB AG, the rail freight companies ÖBB Rail Cargo Group, DB Cargo and SBB Cargo, as well as the wagon hire companies Ermewa, GATX Rail Europe and VTG, are campaigning for equipping trains throughout Europe with the Digital Automatic Coupling. The consortium began its work in June 2020. By 2030, freight wagons throughout Europe are to be equipped with the new technology and contribute to rail freight transport taking on an essential role in the European mobility system of the future. The BMDV is financing the DAC4EU project over a projected period of two and a half years with about €13 million.

The Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) is supporting the TARO Project, which also addresses matters related to the DAC with €3.5 million EUR total from the FTI Program Mobility of the Future (Mobilität der Zukunft), managed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

NEWS REVIEW

UK rail tunnel opens to get rail freight out of the way ENGLAND In December 2021, the then-UK Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris officially opened the brand-new Werrington Tunnel at Peterborough to carry freight trains underneath the busy East Coast Main Line so passenger services will no longer be disrupted by freight trains crossing the tracks.

By easing congestion on existing tracks, the project will see improved reliability for journeys using the line daily. This was another successful step in the £1.2 billion East Coast upgrade, to enable quicker journeys between London, the north of England and Scotland.

The completed project will help pave the way for the massive infrastructure roll out across the north and Midlands recently announced in the Integrated rail plan (IRP). The IRP sets out £96 billion worth of investment into the railways.

Heaton-Harris said at the time: “This country’s railways have long been home to marvels of engineering and the new Werrington Tunnel shows that we are continuing that proud tradition.”

HERITAGE FLEET SELL-OFF CONTINUES AT DRS UNITED KINGDOM The second collection of Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) heritage stock became available for sale last month. This sale saw Class 37, 57 locomotive and DBSO carriages available.

The items were sold through competitive online bidding.

The process ran until midday February 7 and is another chapter in DRS’s push for lower carbon locomotives and ambitious fleet modernisation plans.

Chris Connelly, NTS Deputy CEO and Rail Director, said: “We’re really proud of our past but as we look to the future we need to ensure we’re as efficient and agile as possible.

“We’ll be utilising our much more efficient and environmentally friendly Class 88 and Class 68 locomotives as we drive forward, ensuring that rail freight is as green as it can be and continue to emit much less CO2 when compared to road.

“This is a really exciting time at DRS and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

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COUNTRY REPORT

Arrival in Rotterdam for the Moscow Shuttle

RUSSIA STEPPES INTO EXCITING TIMES FOR RAIL FREIGHT ACTION It is believed that the main motivation behind the Russians adopting a railway gauge 89mm broader than the 1435mm ‘Stephenson gauge’ was it would frustrate any invasion, writes Jonathan Webb 56 n

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RAIL FREIGHT

T

he Second World War dashed any hope that a pernicious invader could be stopped at a break of gauge between the 1435 mm and 1530 mm gauges.

While making a rapid advance on Russian territory east of Warsaw, engineers of the German army found it a relatively simple and quick task to narrow the gauge, simply by moving one rail closer to the other before securing it on the wooden sleepers.

Should the German troops be forced to retreat, they would hamper any attempts by the Russians to re-install the broad gauge, by sawing off a section of sleeper, thus making it impossible for broad gauge to be restored without first rebuilding the whole track.

When hostilities ceased in 1945 and with a significant shift in the politics of Hungary, transportation links to the east became significantly more important. Shortly after the war, a double gauge railway was constructed, using the Hungarian 1435mm gauge and the Soviet 1520mm gauge, between Záhony and Chop. In addition a gigantic inland port of 84 square kilometres was constructed to facilitate the transfer of goods between trains of both gauges. Many other such ports were built along the Soviet Union’s western border. A surge in Councilfor Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) trade in the 1970s saw the capacity of the Záhony transloading station reach 16 million tonnes annually. This figure is rather less today.

Exciting projects

Currently a lot of the focus and excitement is on developments in high-speed passenger trains in Russia – the latest being Siemens signing an agreement with the Russian Engineering Centre regarding the building of high-speed trains scheduled for introduction in 2028. However, away from the glamour of highspeed passenger services, there are many exciting projects on the rail freight front. The most significant of these is a new direct rail freight service that connects Rotterdam with Moscow.

Called the ‘Moscow Shuttle’ the first train ran on October 28, departing from the RSC Waalhaven terminal, travelling through Poland and Belarus and the Brest/Malaszewicze border-crossing before reaching its final destination. Organised by

Smartcontainer BV and Ruscon, both part of the Delo Group, the new service will initially comprise of one weekly round trip. Tilburg-based GVT Group of Logistics is responsible for the trainload that was transported from Tilburg to Rotterdam, also by train.

It is hoped to be able to increase the frequency to three round trips in the relatively near future, with Smartcontainer keen to emphasise that the train is open to a wide variety of freight from containers and bulk cargo to semi-trailers.

The economic importance of this train for both the Netherlands and Russia cannot be underestimated. It is Russia’s number one export destination in Europe and the second worldwide. Roland Verbraak, General Manager GVT Group of Logistics, said that the ‘Moscow Shuttle’ represents a long-awaited gateway between the two countries.

Delegates from Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan attended the train launch and went on to discuss the new possibilities that the Rotterdam-Moscow connection brings for their countries, with both Russia and Kazakhstan stressing how it had the strong potential to become a New Silk Road.

Away from Europe, Russia is developing its Far Eastern ports as transhipments hubs. This move has been prompted by a decline in traffic due to prevention and control measures introduced by China, resulting in the volume of transit cargo at the Sino-Russian border falling by 27.7% in August.

With no prospect of this downward spiral changing in the forseable future, Russian railways has little realistic options but to develop ports, with the port of Vladivostok doing particularly well.

Thanks to Russia’s transit subsidy policy, Russian Rail-4

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RUSSIAN RA

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AIL FREIGHT ways has managed to attract significant volumes of cargo from China and other Asia -Pacific regions via its ports in the Far East. A good example is the Trans-Siberian Railway which has seen the amount of freight transported increase by 18 times. Russian Railways transported 147 containers on the line during the first half of 2020, with the figure now standing at almost 3000.

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Ambitious

Russia is nothing if not ambitious and has resumed its Siberian Meridian railway project, which was suspended during the worst of the pandemic, to connect the ports of the Pacific and Indian Oceans with the Northern Sea route. Resumption has been encouraged by a new financial impetus from RZD, Russian Railways’ subsidiary, outlined in a statement in September in which details of a long-term investment programme were released. The project, which was first proposed by Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in October 2019, includes both already planned construction sites such as the Northern Latitudinal Passage, and new thousand-kilometre lines in Siberia and the Arctic. When completed, these will connect with the existing routes, which connects Russia with the rest of the world. The overall

cost of the project is expected to be 4.9 trillion rubles. Within the project, there are plans to bypass the Trans-siberian rail corridor by constructing a rail freight link between China and Arctic seaports on the Northern Sea Route.

Some analysts at the Russian GoArtic newspaper believe that the project will face significant technical and other difficulties as it progresses.

Not only is there a belief that construction will be difficult, but that it will be expensive too – making the state a guarantor, although steps may be taken later in the project to try and attract private investors.

In recent years Russia has been very successful in expanding its rail network across its northern territories, where the density of railways in the region is higher than average for the whole of Russia.

In addition to relieving pressure on the heavily used Trans-Siberian corridor, the Siberian Meridian should provide rail access for the first clusters of the Angara-Yenisei macro-region, helping develop the Russian Arctic and Siberian regions.

The project is seen as being vital to Russia’s economy, due mainly to the ever increasing worldwide shipping costs which continue to exert pressure on global economics and trade.

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RUSSIAN RAIL FREIGHT

Russian Railways transports its millionth transit container of the year The millionth TEU was shipped from China to Europe by JSC Russian Railways Logistics using the JSC UTLC ERA service.

The cargo travelled from Chongqing Tuanjetsun station, China to Helsinki Vuosaari station, Finland as part of the regular container transit service of JSC UTLC ERA Dostyk-Buslovskaya. After making its way through Russia, it crossed the border with Finland on December 13.

The containers carried groupage cargo: consumer goods, automobile parts, retail equipment and much more.

One million containers is a record tally in the history of rail in Russia.

“We purposefully aimed for this.

Our reliability, speed and environmental friendliness in shipping containers meets the most demanding requirements of our customers both in Asia and Europe.

“We have greatly exceeded our plan for the current year: 850,000 containers, and by the end of the year we plan to reach 1,100,000 TEU,” said Oleg Belozerov, General Director and Chairman of the Board of JSC Russian Railways.

He also stressed that this number is an important step in satisfying the decree of the President of the Russian Federation to quadruple the volume of rail transit container traffic by 2024.

Container trade through Rus-

sia is growing ahead of schedule, increasing 1.4 times in the year to November 2021.

The China-Europe-China trade route plays a key and strategic role in the development of railway transit container transportation, showing a 43% increase in January-November 2021.

This growth is due to both competitive tariffs and transportation times, as well as the development of the service component.

According to the Comprehensive Plan for the Modernisation and Expansion of the Trunk Infrastructure approved by the Russian government, annual container transit should amount to 1.7 million TEU by 2024.

Nothing fishy about russian railways

Russian Railways delivered 609,500 tonnes of seafood products from Primorsky Territory in Russia’s Far East region from January to November 2021, an increase of 26.8% over the same eleven-month period the previous year. It delivered 68,300 tonnes in November 2021, up 35.6% compared to November 2020.

The company also transported 392,500 tonnes of seafood in

containers since the beginning of the year, an increase of 25.7%, and 217,100 tonnes in refrigerated wagons, up 29% on January to November 2020.

The bulk of the seafood products in January-November was shipped to consignees in the Moscow region (251,000 tonnes), followed by deliveries to the Urals (114,700 tonnes) and Siberia (83,200 tonnes).

Export shipments of marine products from the railway stations in Primorsky Territory until November 2020 amounted to 75,500 tonnes. In November 2021, 9,100 tonnes were dispatched to China.

Rail consignments of seafood from Primorsky Territory to China began in May 2020 as an alternative to road deliveries following the introduction of quarantine restrictions by China.

Kaliningrad Railways triples transit container volumes between China-Europe Kaliningrad Railways transported nearly 117,500 Twenty-Foot Equivalent units (TEU) from January to November 2021, three times more than the volume of container traffic in the same eleven-month period during 2020, according to the Corporate Communications Service at Kaliningrad Railways.

Multimodal routes carried 84.8% of the total

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container volume.

From January to November 2021, 99,600 TEU containers were transported on Kaliningrad Railways and then despatched further via ports to consignees from China to Europe and in the opposite direction, which is 4.3 times more than in the same period last year.

RUSSIAN RAIL FREIGHT

RM RAIL signS with VTG Rail Russia for supply of container platforms VTG Rail Russia, provider of rental services of freight wagons on the Russian market and subsidiary of VTG, a leader in the European wagon hire and rail logistics market, has signed a contract for the supply of 40’ platforms (model 13-1258-01) with leading manufacturer of freight wagons in Russia, RM Rail.

RM Rail will manufacture 250 platforms 40’ for VTG Rail Russia. The model 13-1258-01 is used for transportation of various containers including the ones with gross loading capacity up to 36 tonnes and tank containers. Containers might be additionally anchored on the platforms in case of adverse weather conditions (gusts of wind exceeding 20 m/s). Tie down devices were specially designed for this purpose. Maximum load of the railcar is 72 tonne, axle load is 23.5 tonne, service life is 32 years.

Prior delivery

The order is due to be completed in 2022 with a possible prior delivery of container wagons at the end of 2021. The manufacturer is Ruzkhimmash.

VTG Rail Russia plans to use these platforms for the transportation of its own tank containers in the conduct of the development strategy of VTG Tanktainer in

Russia. Earlier Ruzkhimmash has manufactured hoppers for cement (19-1217), LPG tanks 15-1200-02 and 15-1209 and oil tanks for VTG Rail Russia.

Alexander Kulikov, CEO of RM Rail: “We consider VTG Rail Russia a valued partner. Our partnership advances due to VTG Rail Russia’s interest in our developments and our products living up to the international quality standards. We are ready to accomplish the order as soon as possible and to realise new joint projects in innovative railcar manufacturing.”

Olga Yakimova, Managing Director of VTG Rail Russia: “We have established collaboration with RM Rail.

In the course of the years of our conjoint work we have repeatedly proved our partnership.

“We have highest regard for both RM Rail’s products quality and their positive and constructive approach and readiness to achieve goals together.

“We believe expansion of our co-operation is a logical continuation of VTG Rail Russia’s long-term development strategy on the Russian market which implies replenishment of the stock with the most demanded rolling stock with the best technical and commercial characteristics.

“We hope to strengthen business relations between our companies.”

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Leasing

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LEASING W

Owners may come and go but the rolling stock remains. In rail freight worldwide, leasing makes a perfect marriage with the economics of operations. Will Huskisson signs up, spreads the risk on a strictly contractual basis and says “I do” to ownership alternatives

hen considering those middlemen of the rail industry, it pays to think big. If there had ever been a Hitchhiker’s Guide to Rail Freight, the entry on leasing would have been big. Which is fair enough, but the entry on North American leasing would have been just mind bogglingly big. So mind bogglingly big that all other leasing operations are just peanuts to North American leasing agents. All the rest seem like a run down to the chemist’s by comparison. That’s how big.

Douglas Adams never wrote railroad leasing into his comic science fiction masterpiece. If he had, then a run down to the chemists would certainly have been scripted. The headache of the pandemic has done nothing to make life easy for leasing agents. Not just that troublesome virus, but a supply chain stock pile-up, a storm of extreme weather incidents and the wild swings of politically motivated infrastructure policies.

If agents and their androids didn’t already have a searing pain in all the diodes down their left-handsides, they do now. The first two years of this monumental disruption - they’ve been the worst. The next two years - they’ll be the worst as well. In a world where an intermodal container costs more to lease per diem than the locomotive that hauls it, things are not getting better anytime soon.

The boxcar cowboy (such individuals still exist) can expect a home makeover any time now. Acquiring a rake of spanking new boxcars isn’t quite as simple as rocking up reservations and showing your Class One railroad licence, but it’s not far off that. Given the scope of the marketplace, short notice, short

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term leasing is part of the possible. Take the familiar name of Greenbrier, who epitomise the scale of North American operations. For the autumn quarter of 2021, the company reported orders for 6,200 rail car units valued at $670 million - and that’s just the new stuff. Living up to the first syllable of their name, Greenbrier received orders to rebody 1,400 railcars as part of its conversion programme. That’s already outstripped their performance for the previous year. You name it, and Greenbrier is building it. The railcar orders cover the gamut of operators, and consist of intermodals, boxcars, gondolas, tank cars, covered hoppers and automobile-carrying railcars. All this and the dimensions of these wagons are on North American scale: mindbogglingly big says the Guide.

“Greenbrier is strongly-positioned in the recovering railcar markets on three continents, North America, South America and Europe,” said Bill Furman, Chairman and CEO, speaking from the company headquarters in Oregon’s Lake Oswego, greater Portland. “These orders, along with our $2.8 billion new railcar backlog, highlights the strength of our global integrated business model.”

Well might Furman reflect on that integration. Greenbrier manages around 444,000 railcars, as well as railcar management, regulatory compliance services and leasing services to railroads and other railcars owners in North America. A subsidiary, GBX Leasing, owns and manages its own portfolio of leased railcars, primarily from Greenbrier’s in-house manufacturing operations. That modest fleet runs to nearly 12,500 railcars, from which the ‘turn up and roll off’ service originates.

Leasing Lorie Tekorius will assume the role of CEO and President at the beginning of March, taking over from Greenbrier’s co-founder, Bill Furman

Greenbrier’s railcar conversion programme demonstrates a conservation partnership with its customers - something that is becoming more fashionable, and belies the outdated perception of a wasteful economy. The mantra of rail freight as the most environmentally friendly mode of surface transport is chanted just as loudly on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Earth-loving message rings no more true than around the Paris boardroom of Ermewa, the European leasing group that emulates its transatlantic rivals. The office of managing director Peter Reinshagen is furnished with unique pieces remanufactured from redundant rolling stock.

Like their afore-mentioned contemporaries in the leasing game, Ermewa shuffles a dealer’s hand in everything above the rails. They identify themselves as one of the leading lessors worldwide, with a royal flush of intermodal railcars, tank containers and freight cars generally - and that’s still possibly understating their influence. Together with Hamburg’s VTG and Switzerland’s Wascosa, they are giants of the European leasing scene.

It was just last November that Ermewa sealed a deal in Brussels with Lineas, Europe’s biggest independent rail freight operator, a spin-out from Belgium’s state rail company, SNCB. The sale and leaseback arrangement was a common enough corporate refinancing move. The scale of the transaction was somewhat less so. Around 100 locomotives and 4,000 wagons changed hands in a deal richer than anything for sale in the exclusive Brussels boutiques of Avenue Louise. Signatory, David Zindo, the President of Ermewa Group, emphasised how

the sale and lease back arrangement works for both parties, allowing Lineas to invest the freed-up capital in growth and business transformation projects.

Far more than the environmentally-friendly credentials of the managing director’s office suite, David Zindo says Ermewa’s involvement in the rail industry goes far beyond financing. “As major actors in European rail freight, Ermewa and Lineas have a joint responsibility to make Shift to Rail [a European initiative to do exactly that] as attractive as possible to existing and future rail freight customers. We are delighted to start working with Lineas on new wagon concepts, innovation and new technologies to fulfil this responsibility.”

Lessors as innovators is a concept close to the heart of Ermewa. The Lineas deal was rich enough for them to collaborate with a British partner, Beacon Rail - a name perhaps more familiar to those in the passenger sector. It didn’t hurt that Beacon was also farsighted enough to be represented in Antwerp, where they are a significant industry presence in their own right.

In common with all the serious leasing agents, Beacon boasts a wide range motive power and rolling stock for passenger and freight operations. In terms of units on the tracks, they may be dwarfed by the big American operators, but that’s hardly a concern - except maybe on the stock market. Nevertheless, they’re much more pride than hide when it comes to high-profile deals.

Their fleet of ten Stadler-built ‘Euro-Dual’ electro-diesels are high-profile among industry watchers. They enabled4

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Leasing 4

Carlisle-based Direct Rail Services to jump from a heritage-era portfolio to the most modern traction operator in British rail freight - in one fell swoop. Designated Class 88 in their UK homologation, the locos have been the stars of the freight show ever since their introduction in 2015.

Spotlight of attention

That spotlight of attention has been good news for Beacon too. Since its founding in 2008, their business has continued to grow at home and in Europe, where they now stake a claim in seventeen territories. Just last year, the company opened a subsidiary for Spanish and Portuguese interests, where the rail market is on the crest of a wide-gauge wave.

While active players in the passenger market too, their chief executive, Adam Cunliffe has a firm footing in the freight sector. He held board level positions at Freightliner, before turning gamekeeper with Beacon. “Our commitment to our customers goes beyond providing rolling stock,” says Cunliffe, and he’s adamant that leasing is more than a transaction - it’s a partnership. “Beacon can provide direct management of its rolling stock through dry lease or full service offer, with life cycle management to ensure that rolling stock is available and reliable. We provide dedicated technical support to keep your assets secure and reliable. Our team works to ensure your leasing package is tailored to your needs, so that you get maximum value from the assets we provide.”

Leasing in the UK has come of age since the shotgun divorce of privatisation in the 1990s. The de facto formation of the rolling stock owning companies, forever hence known as

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the ROSCOs, was arguably the greatest money-spinner of the whole programme.

Critics will argue that it shamelessly handed the taxpayer-bought legacy British Railways fleet into the hands of corporate middlemen. Advocates will retort that it exposed the market to huge reserves of business capital and hastened the modernisation of the rolling stock fleet in a way not seen since the great modernisation plans of the nineteen fifties and sixties.

Certainly, the consist of the modern British freight train bears no resemblance to the clanking, crawling, unfitted forebear that rattled around the network as recently as the eighties. The impression was every bit Z-Cars, while the rest of the world tuned in to Miami Vice. The leasing industry may be held responsible for raking in a wagonload of cash, but also lauded for updating the average rake of wagon to something more appropriate to the needs of the twenty-first century.

Certainly, an industry that generates a steady income stream over a period of decades, attracts amorous interest from the financial sector. Rolling stock companies have themselves become profitably traded commodities, and helped keep afloat the independent vestiges of the British manufacturing sector. The often cited WH Davis, the independent manufacturer in Mansfield, has recently started delivering huge box wagons for various customers, through a leasing deal with Beacon Rail.

Fragmentation of the industry, and the necessary involvement of third-party leasing agents, may have hastened the demise of indigenous mass manufacturing epitomised by works like Doncaster and Swindon. However, it’s the harsh reality of

Leasing

global economics, which make it possible for the likes of Transport for London to choose between East European and Chinese factories to renew their maintenance wagon fleet. It’s no accident that Romanian, Polish and Turkish are all languages spoken commonly among the staff of Greenbrier.

Their six manufacturing locations, spread out from the Baltic to the Bosporous, ensure their vertical integration into the freight wagon industry. Swiss-Italian is the heritage language at Wascosa.

The company, which always sounds as though it has one more syllable than absolutely necessary, is one of the biggest family-run enterprises in Europe. Their bright orange livery is familiar in all the far-flung corners of Europe. Their UK representative may be an accomplished drummer, but the real tub-thumping is done in their headquarters on Lac Lucerne.

Hardly the industrial heartland of Europe, but entirely appropriate to their efficient Swiss approach.

“Wascosa was one of the first companies in Europe to hire out railway transportation,” says Philipp Müller, the current President of the Board. Their expertise has grown into a diversified portfolio and what they call a special corporate culture.

“It ensures that we remain open, agile and quick to react. It will also pave the way into the future”, he adds.

If all the big financial institutions and banks, the Swiss ones included, had a stake in the freight leasing market - no one would be surprised. Back across the Atlantic, eyebrows therefore remain unraised at the significant interest in the long-term earning potential of America’s freight-led railroads. Hardly a name on Wall Street goes without its own rail leasing office, and the biggest of all echoes the gold rush that awaits.

Wells Fargo Rail

Once upon a time in the west, Wells Fargo Rail was First Union Rail, but that passed through a few mergers and acquisitions to become something of a silver lining for the current owners. Laying claim to 175,000 wagons, and getting on for 1800 locomotives, the company could satisfy most of the European demand on its own. This though is America, where scale is everything.

Take the moderately-sized Class One freight operator Norfolk Southern, a conglomerate active in twenty-two states, ranging over a network longer than the entire UK layout. Stand at the trackside, and start counting their rolling stock, piece by piece, passing you one every second. You’ll still be there seventeen hours later. NS is far from the biggest, and there are six more Class One operations out there. Maybe five when you read this, if the merger of Canadian Pacific with Kansas City Southern goes through.

Signals are green

Across the world, the signals are green for a wave of leasing activity. US President Joe Biden has signalled a generational upgrade of the national railroad industry. In North America above all, there’s a rich seam of business to be mined. Given the aging fleet, the rail freight operators of North America represent a silver-lined bonanza bigger than the Ponderosa.

Today, the small-screen’s silver seeking Cartwright family would saddle up and head for the nearest railhead instead. For the love of leasing, the iron road is instead made from a more precious metal.

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RAIL FREIGHT LANDMARK

WHEN UNCLE SAM WAS IN A decade before the privatisation of THE UK’S British rail, the search for more reliable motive power led to a locomotive plant in illinois to plug the gap in horsepower. some in the railway sector point to the arrival of the locomotives and the success of their performance led to a resurgance of rail freight in britain

I

n the early 1980s, Foster Yeoman operated the Torr Works quarry near Merehead in Somerset, England with much of the output going to rail-served depots at places such as Theale and Acton, near London. From May 1983 the trains had been diagrammed for Class 56 locomotives but up to 40% of services were arriving late.

In an era of a nationalised British Rail, managers took the radical step of planning to bring over locomotives from the United States in a first for the post-War UK network.

The Class 59 3,300 bhp (2,460 kW) Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives were built between 1985 and 1995 by US locomotive builder Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) for operation in Great Britain. A total of 15 locomotives were built for three different operators.

They were the first privately-owned diesel locomotives to operate regularly on the British main line, also the first diesel locomotives built for it in the United States.

Tender for six locomotives

Foster Yeoman operated an American Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) SW1001 shunter in the quarry so the company was invited to tender for six locomotives. Brush Traction and British Rail Engineering Limited in England were also invited but could not meet the 95% availability that Foster Yeoman demanded.

EMD based the design on their SD40-2 with ‘Super Series’ wheel creep control. This allowed a single locomotive to operate the heaviest Foster Yeoman trains which would enable double-heading to be dispensed with and so just four locomotives were ordered in November 1984. EMD created a new design with their EMD 645 engine inside the British loading gauge, along with British brakes and safety systems and with a cab layout similar the British Rail Class 58 to aid driver familiarity. They were custom-built at La Grange, Illinois by a team of 21 people. The locomotives emerged from the workshops

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towards the end of 1985 and arrived at Southampton on January 21 1986.

While a first on the British main line, EMD-powered locomotives have been the mainstay in both the Republic of Ireland

RAIL FREIGHT LANDMARK

A CLASS Of his own

since 1961 and Northern Ireland since 1980. Following Foster Yeoman’s example, rival ARC Southern ordered four Class 59/1 and National Power six Class 59/2s. Foster Yeoman and Amey merged their rail concerns into Mendip Rail, and the rail interests of National Power were taken over by English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS).

The Class 59 was superseded by the Class 66. These locomotives were first built for EWS in 1998 and are now operated by most British and some European freight operators. This design uses the same body shell but it has some differences including a larger EMD 710 engine.

training of drivers and maintenance staff and to prove the haulage capability on Foster Yeoman’s tracks, also on the main line towards London when regular services were not running. The locomotives retained at Derby underwent further tests including on the Midland Main Line.

The four locomotives started to haul regular trains on February 17 1986.

The locomotives were all named (Yeoman Endeavour, Yeoman Enterprise, Yeoman Highlander and Yeoman Challenger) in a ceremony at Merehead on June 28 1986. At the same time EMD presented a non-working American-style locomotive bell which was fixed to special brackets above the front windows of 59001.

While the locomotives were owned by Foster Yeoman, the operation of trains on the main line was by British Rail drivers based at Westbury and Old Oak Common in London. Maintenance was at Foster Yeoman’s Merehead depot but mostly carried out by British Rail staff from Bristol Bath Road depot.

The locomotives’ livery was silver with a dark blue band along the lower panel of the roof (with ‘Yeoman’ in white at one end) and another blue band at the base of the body side.

British Rail required yellow on the ends below the window and on the buffer beam; above this was silver; the bottom blue line was carried around the end.

A large ‘Y’ logo in blue was painted on a white background offset from the body centre. The number was carried on a cast plate below the drivers window (left side of the cab) and nameplates were fitted below the opposite cab window.

During the first year of operation the first four locomotives travelled an average of 273,331 miles (439,884 km) each and hauled 2.84 million tonnes between them. Availability was 99.3% and they achieved 99.8% availability over their first ten years.

Increasing business resulted in a fifth locomotive being ordered in 1988. 59005 was built by EMD at La Grange and arrived in the UK at Felixstowe on June 4 1989.

It went to Derby for inspection and then entered service from Merehead on June 19 1989. From October 1993 the five locomotives operated jointly with the ARC Southern Class 59/1s under the Mendip Rail agreement but remained the property of Foster Yeoman. In 1997 59003 was withdrawn from Mendip Rail traffic and modified to work in Germany in a joint operation with DB Cargo.

First order

The first order for four Class 59s was placed on November 16 and the locomotives arrived at Southampton on January 21 1986. They were initially hauled to Merehead and then taken to the Railway Technical Centre at Derby for inspection. 59002 and 59004 returned to Merehead on January 29 to allow the

Photo (top): 59001 at Southampton Docks having been unloaded from the MV Fairlift in January 1986 (Credit: Murgatroyd49)

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Photo (left): 59001 Yeoman Endeavour nameplate (Credit: Geoff Sheppard)

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NEWS REVIEW

Low Carbon Logistics: initiatives come out EUROPE As Freight Tracks was being developed as a publication in the last months of 2021, the Low Carbon Logistics event, staged to highlight the road to net zero in the freight industry, was described as a ‘great success’ and a real boost for innovation and communication in the sector.

Occurring during COP26 and ending on Transport Day at the global conference, ‘Low Carbon Logistics’ took place over three days in November and showcased the drive by businesses and organisations across Scotland and the UK to reach net zero emission supply chains.

Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport in Scotland, opened the event before three days of exhibitions, presentations, panel discussions and three naming ceremonies of electric and sustainable fuel locomotives. On the opening day of the event, GB Railfreight named a class 92 Electric Locomotive ‘Billy Stirling’ after Mossend International Railfreight Park owners Andrew and David Stirling’s father.

On the second day, the event was titled ‘Driving Rail Innovations’ where topics discussed included ‘Sustainability in Scotland’s Railway’ and the importance of diversity and inclusion for growth in the sector. The main takeaway from the event were the possibilities that could be created with the decarbonisation of the freight industry and the space for growth with all organisations in the sector working together and ‘Pulling Together for Net Zero’.

On the second day, a DB Cargo-owned Class 90 Electric Locomotive was also named ‘The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’ carrying a unique livery to depict how important modern rail freight is to the UK economy.

The event welcomed key guests from the industry including Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, Bill Reeves, Director of Rail at Transport Scotland and on the third day, there was a visit from UK Government Minister Iain Stewart.

Paul Sheerin, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering said; “Scottish Engineering was delighted to be part of the Low Carbon Logistics event at Mossend this week that concluded yesterday on Transport Day which was an appropriate end to a successful three days focused on how the rail sector is pulling together for a cleaner, greener future.

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Photo credits: GRM Marketing, Glasgow

Second day

“Being able to highlight the work of our rail cluster project, funded by Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland, in which Scottish SMEs looking to diversify into the rail market, bring innovative, green solutions and best practice from other industry sectors into rail was a great opportunity to demonstrate our

NEWS REVIEW

‘transformational’ of Glasgow Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes says is needed globally to prevent warming of more than 1.5 degrees.

Andrew Stirling, Director of Peter D Stirling and Mossend International Railfreight Park said: “We wanted to take the opportunity that COP26 offered to really do something about low carbon logistics and the work going on in the freight industry to reach the net zero goals set out by the government.

“We know that rail and road freight needed pulling together to ensure that the sector delivers targets and that the industry is moving in the right direction.

“It is up to the government to achieve these goals but businesses like ours, and the ones in attendance at this event, are the ones on the ground ensuring change is made for the decarbonisation of the industry.”

UK Government Minister Iain Stewart echoed Andrew Stirling’s words commenting that its businesses, like Peter D Stirling, who are really delivering the global targets and ambitions when it comes to decarbonisation.

“There’s a real challenge to decarbonise as much as possible in the transport industry… some of the initiatives and projects I’ve seen today I think are transformational and will take us a long way down that road,” he said.

GB Railfreight name electric locomotive ‘Billy Stirling’: GB Railfreight Business Development Director Tim Hartley, David Stirling Director of Peter D Stirling, Julie Corr Daughter of Billy Stirling, Andrew Stirling Director of Peter D Stirling

Ambitious plans

progress in supporting the aims of the Scottish Government’s Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan.”

Scotland currently has some of the most ambitious plans in terms of climate legislation in the world.

The 2030 target of 75% reductions goes beyond what the

Over the next few years, Mossend International Railfreight Park (MIRP) will expand the already established rail logistics operation to provide a further 200,000 sq m of low carbon, 24/7 distribution, logistics and manufacturing space.

Scotland currently has some of the most ambitious plans in terms of climate legislation in the world. The published 2030 target of 75% reductions goes well beyond what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes says is needed, globally, to prevent alarming and deadly warming of more than 1.5 degrees.

Low Carbon Logistics supported both the Scottish and United Kingdom Government’s vision for a zero-carbon supply chain network and a more competitive and efficient rail and road freight sector.

The event provided an opportunity to share ideas and innovation and create a platform to explore how supply chains can become more sustainable within the freight industry as businesses continue ‘Ppulling Together For Net Zero’.

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NEWS REVIEW

Enabling digital and intelligent rail freight in Europe EUROPE Rail is a central part of Europe’s current logistics ecosystem, a component of the complex and multimodal system that moves goods that enable modern European life and the economic opportunities that underwrites it. As the second most emitting sector after energy production, European mobility must be decarbonised. Recognising rail’s unique attributes of not only producing less than 1% of transport’s emissions while becoming both greener and capable of conveying more materials, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy has called on doubling rail freight by 2050, in line with the EU Green Deal’s stated goal of creating a modal shift to help the EU become carbon neutral by the same year.

Held on December 7 last year and organised by UNIFE as part of “The European Year of Rail” campaign, this event was an opportunity to assess the importance of rail freight for reaching the European Commission’s climate and digitalisation targets with high level representatives from the European Parliament, the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R JU), the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), Siemens Mobility and Wabtec.

Technology and innovation

Panellists focused on how the sector’s technology and innovation efforts have progressed through their engagement with the exciting European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP), conducted under the S2R JU umbrella. As the conversation turned to explore the priorities and strategy of the institutionalised partnership’s successor, Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU), speakers were optimistic about the programme as a recent announcement demonstrated its commitment to this topic with its new fifth flagship area “Sustainable Competitive Digital Green Rail Freight Services”.

At the conclusion of the conversation, participants discussed, from a system perspective, the visions and challenges to digital and intelligent rail freight in Europe and their implications for achieving a significant modal shift by 2050 as envisioned by the EU Green Deal.

Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, Member of the European Parliament, communicated the need for greater competition in the logistics sector: “In order to make the shift to rail a reality, first of all we need fair competition between the modes of transport. However, it is equally important that rail freight transport is brought up to the state-of-the-art to be competitive point.”

Carlo Borghini, Executive Director of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking and the upcoming Europe’s Rail programme, highlighted the need to focus on emerging technologies:

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“Digitalisation and automation of train operations carry huge performance benefits for rail, leveraging on existing infrastructure while also upgrading it. Rail freight may be the segment that will benefit more from such transformation as the opportunity of growth is huge. Nevertheless, this is not sufficient: digitalisation and intelligence benefits will be jeopardised if we do not intervene with a system approach to address many other barriers still present, such as border checks and controls, some national operational rules, time to market, etc. The Europe’s Rail partnership, which will start its full operations during 2022, is committed to support the rail freight sector to deliver, with an ambitious roadmap, the expected technological and operational solutions.”

Josef Doppelbauer, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), explained the importance of data management for the future of freight: “Rail freight needs a system-wide change to be digitally integrated with intermodal transport chains – seamless movement of trains and accurate and timely information will help to increase the rail modal share.”

Christoph Klose, Head of Yard Solutions at Siemens Mobility, Co-leader of EDDP Work Package 1, emphasised the need for rail freight innovation by saying: “The digital freight train, as well as the seamless management of rail freight, in Europe is essential to increase the competitiveness of rail freight.”

Roberto Tione, VP Technology Innovation at Wabtec, stated that: “The EDDP Flagship Area “Sustainable Competitive Digital Green Rail Freight Services” is the greatest, and perhaps the last opportunity for the railways stakeholders, IM/ RU and Industry, to make Rail Freight the most efficient and preferable tool for freight transport in Europe. The challenge is not only technological, it will be necessary to generate in parallel new European operational standards linked to the new ways of operating freight trains offered by this immense technological leap”

In conclusion

Philippe Citroën, Director General of UNIFE, concluded the session by stressing the central role rail freight will play in the future of a carbon neutral Europe: “Doubling rail freight by 2050 will be an essential development for achieving net zero by mid-century. It will transform how Europeans across the continent receive goods and conduct business. To achieve this transition, the European institutions and Member States must provide significant investments and remain committed to research and innovation initiatives like Shift2Rail.”

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SMALL SCALE RAIL FREIGHT

The all-American 40ft boxcar In each issue of Freight Tracks we will look at scale model versions of modern and old school freight rolling stock

HO SCALE MILWAUKEE ROAD 3839 RIBSIDE BOXCAR CAN there be a more iconic railcar than the 40ft (12.1 m) boxcar that for generations has been the face of North American rail freight? Now overshaowed by its longer 50ft (15.2 m) cousin, the boxcar has spawned folk and country & western songs, the hobo on his travels and Boxcar Willie.

More prosaically, ‘boxcar’ is the Association of American Railroads (AAR) term for a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry ‘boxed’, loose freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile since it can carry most loads. Boxcars have side doors of varying size and operation, and some include end doors and adjustable bulkheads to load very large items.

Similar covered freight cars outside North America are covered goods wagons and, depending on the region, are known as goods van (UK and Australia), covered wagon (UIC and UK) or simply van (UIC, UK and Australia).

own rolling stock, Milwaukee’s rib side box car is easily one of the most prolific and recognisable signature cars running on North American rails.

The Milwaukee Road’s Rib Side boxcar is a model that includes full-length rib profiles which have been meticulously recreated with hand-etched wood

The model version

Provo, Utah-based ExactRail HO Scale (1:87) Milwaukee Road Ribside Boxcar.

The company states it is “dedicated to the creation of fine-scale replicas. Distinguished by our unique expertise in mould creation and product design, ExactRail’s replicas are some of the most acclaimed models and the true benchmarks for quality of the last decade.”

Built in the golden years when the railroad designed and engineered its

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These three cars were part of a small order of 83 ribside boxcars that were delivered in September, 1939.

Numbering from 19000-19082, they were the first new 40 foot ribsides built by the Milwaukee Road. This group of cars were built with wood running boards and were equipped with Universal hand brakes.

The HO scale model is part of the Platinum Series.

It uses Kadee #58 couplers.

Its bogie/truck type is ExactRail 50 ton Barber S-2 Friction Bearing Trucks. The model has CNC-Machined 33” wheels. The prototype was in service between 1939 to the 1960s in the US Midwest. The model will operate on a minimum radius of 22” (56mm). The model has an RRP of $44.99 and is one of six verions of the boxcar that ExactRail has released.

The real railroad

grain for realistic weight and tone.

Complete with panel type camel doors, 5-5 dreadnaught ends and precision detailed lumber door, ExactRail’s Milwaukee Rib Side Box Car is an exclusive replica that the company hopes will please enthusiasts and collectors alike.

February 14 2022 @freighttracks

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), often referred to as the “Milwaukee Road” (reporting mark MILW), was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986 when the company declared bankruptcy for the third time.

Feat of clay In Cornwall, England, the Clay Wagon Project is setting out to restore an authentic rake of clay wagons that were once a regular sight in the heart of the China Clay county.

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End of the Line.

Clay wagon on the wagon traverser at Carne Point Antony Guppy

T

he Clay Wagon Project has an ambition to restore nine clay wagons. These distinctive wagons had to be unusually small, even for the British rail system - only 16ft 6in (5 m) over headstocks with a 9ft (2.75 m) wheelbase and with an end tippler door.

The wagons are based at the preserved Bodmin & Wenford Railway near Bodmin in Cornwall, England. Once all clay wagons are fully restored, they will then be part of an authentic rake of clay hood wagons, becoming the only set running on a heritage railway.

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway is the abode of the China Clay line. It is an ideal location for the project as the clay wagons would have run along the lines to Wenford Dries.

This ended in September 1983.

By a fluke of rail history, if it had not been for the China clay traffic the lines would have been removed long before and not be in existence today.

Each of the nine wagons will be completely restored, taking it back to bare metal and bringing them back to life.

This renovation includes the famous Blue Hood for which the

wagons are well-known and much-loved sight. This made them a familiar sight in Cornwall before being replaced in 1988 by CDA wagons which currently run clay traffic today to Fowey Docks.

Rake of wagons

The wagons are currently undergoing restoration and are in different states of condition. They are all true Western Region products of the nationalised British Railways, being built in Swindon, the historic heart of the GWR. The rake of wagons were built over a period of six years between 1954 and 1960, with examples being built in every year of that period except 1959. Wagon B743031 was built at Swindon in 1954; B743171 (Swindon, 1955); B743226 (Swindon, 1956); B743353 (Swindon, 1957); B743415 (Swindon, 1958); B743443 (Swindon, 1957); B743495 (Swindon, 1958); B743535 (Swindon, 1958); and, B743823 (Swindon, 1960). During the years these were under construction, the Swindon wagon works turned out some 750 examples of the wagons.

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www.freight-tracks.com

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Interestingly, between 1954 and 1957, some 100 clay hood wagons were produced annually; in 1958 and 1960, however, there was an uptick in production that saw numbers grow to 175 examples being made each year.

British Railways built 875 China clay wagons (the first 300 were unfitted when introduced but vacuum brakes were soon fitted afterwards).

The Project is planning to establish a fundraising page. This will allow any donations to be made to assist in the funding of the Clay Wagons restoration. If readers have any pictures, stories or any relevant information or any history on Clay Wagons within Cornwall, they would very much like to hear by email or social media. www.claywagonproject.co.uk

@claywagonbodmin

Wagon B743226 was built in 1956. It was one of three that was purchased from the Pontypool & Bleanavon Railway in 2019, It is in poor condition and will require a full restoration.

Clay Wagon B743835 on display at St Blazey Dept Geoff Brown

In the next issue - February 28, 2022

Ireland country report Shunting locomotives: The little locos who can Timber!

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February 14 2022 @freighttracks

www.claywagonproject.co.uk

NEWS ROUND-UP 2021

DRS’s cool new service

UNITED KINGDOM Leading UK groceries retailer Tesco and Direct Rail Services (DRS) partnered to introduce a cool new service to Britain’s railways in 2021 The new service will be the inaugural time Tesco has used refrigerated rail freight in the UK, distributing chilled goods from Tilbury near London to Coatbridge in Scotland by low CO2 rail twice a day, seven days a week.

This means that rail freight will have played an even bigger role in helping Tesco to deliver Christmas in 2021 and from the start, this new service was set to transport hundreds of different products, including festive favourites such as sprouts, parsnips, carrots, onions, oranges and lemons just in time for that all important Christmas dinner.

Class 88 bi-mode electric locos

Using rail has significant environmental benefits. The 415-mile (260 km) route will use DRS’s Class 88 bi-mode electric locomotives which can run on electricity and produce zero exhaust and green-

house gas emissions. This service alone will take at least 17,000 containers off the UK’s road each year, saving Tesco 7.3 million road miles and nearly 9,000 tonnes of CO2.

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI CEO said: “We’ve been using rail to transport our goods since 2008 and this new service reflects our continuing commitment to rail which has clear advantages for our business, our customers and the planet.

“Our rail service will be an important part of our efforts to deliver a fantastic Christmas for our customers but the journey doesn’t stop here as we continue to increase the number of containers we transport by rail as part of our commitment to reach net zero emissions in our operations by 2035.”

Chris Connelly, NTS Deputy CEO and Rail Director, said: “This is fantastic news, not only for DRS and Tesco but also for the environment.

“This is an example of how rail can play an integral part in the race to net zero. Each train will remove around 40

lorries from Britain’s roads and we’re running two trains a day, seven days a week, saving some 9,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Tesco on this new service, helping them drive down their carbon footprint as they deliver for their customers throughout the UK.” All rail freight delivers 76% fewer CO2 emissions¹ when compared to road; linking with other rail operations from across Europe at Tilbury Forth Ports ensures that fresh produce can travel with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

Tesco is increasing its use of rail freight as part of its efforts to meet its commitment to net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035.

Over the past year alone, the leading supermarket has increased the number of containers with produce destined for its stores transported by rail by nearly 50%.