DB Schenker wins rail contract renewal with Royal Mail
Rail freight company DB Schenker has said it has won a new contract with Royal Mail.
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La Poste to streamline courier products and invest in rail transport
La Poste Group has announced plans to streamline its range of courier products, and also to invest EUR 100m in its transport infrastructure.
Read MoreEurocarex to provide express transportation by rail in Europe
Roissy Cargo Rail Express Association and European Intermodal Association (EIA) have signed a “Memorandum of Interest” in Brussels in preparation for the launch of the rail express network “ Eurocarex” which would have clear environmental benefits, the French newspaper Le Lloyd reported.
The project is aimed at creating a European high-speed rail network to transport express and cargo shipments from 31 March 2012 onwards. The plan is to run trains between a new express freight station at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport and other airports such as Lyon, Lille, Liege, Amsterdam, Cologne and London, with other airports being added later. The key project members include French railway operator SNCF, Air France Cargo, FedEx, La Poste and TNT.
According to Yanick Paternotte, the president of Carex Cargo Rail Express, Eurocarex will initially employ 8 high speed trains specially designed for air cargo with a capacity to transport up to 100 tons of express shipments per train every night to corresponding terminals in Lyon, Lille, Liege, Amsterdam, Cologne and London. Perfectly adapted to the loading of air containers, the trains can be reloaded in less than 45 minutes each.
In spite of the initial investment of estimated EUR 600 million in the special trains and EUR 300 in terminals, Paternotte is convinced that the project will pay off.
The express market will make up the core business of Eurocarex, complemented through air cargo. Public authorities are tempted by the positive environmental impact striving to limit the noise pollution caused by night flights, Le Lloyd further reported.
According to a study conducted by EIA, the transportation via high speed trains would reduce CO2 emissions up to 98 pct compared to air transport.
The Eurocarex network is planned to be extended to cities Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Marseille and Francfort with 20-23 trains in service until 2015.
Read MoreEU launches state aid probe into former SNCF division Sernam
The European Commission said it is launching an investigation into aid granted by the French authorities to Sernam, the former road and rail transport services operator of France’s national railway company, SNCF.
The investigation will focus on the implementation by France of a 2004 commission decision authorising aid of 503 million euros to Sernam, which also required repayment of 41 million euros already received by the company.
The commission has received complaints Sernam was not sold in accordance with the conditions imposed by that same decision and the 41 million euros has not been paid back.
The launching of this in-depth investigation will allow all interested parties to express their points of view. It does not prejudge the Commission’s final decision.
Read MoreFS enters the logistics market
Italian Railways has set up a joint venture with the Italian post office aimed at securing a share of the market for transporting high-value goods and packages. Italia Logistica was launched on February 28 when FS and Gruppo Poste Italiane announced that they were merging the activities of their respective subsidiaries Omnia Logistica and SDA Logistica following the signing of a letter of intent last year.
Italia Logistica will use the strengths of the two parent organisations to offer door-to-door services using pick-up and collection by road and long-haul transport by rail. The company plans to use the latest IT to manage and track consignments and to develop a range of new services.
Chief Executive Mauro Moretti said FS had added a new activity to its range of products and that the business would operate in a ‘very competitive market’. The move followed rationalisation and relaunch of the freight business which included plans to work more closely with Italian ports. Italia Logistica will focus on integrated services for high-value distribution including urban logistics, ‘reverse logistics’ when customers return products to suppliers, and the catering sector.
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