Open access operators complain to Europe,

03 February 2010

POLAND: On February 2, the Federation of Independent Rail Operators ZNPK
announced it had filed a complaint with the European Commission alleging
that the Polish authorities are infringing the spirit of EU legislation
by giving preferential treatment to incumbent freight operator PKP Cargo.

Railway Gazette International: http://bit.ly/9ZrRlC

2010-02: EuroTunnel: rail freight falls are not our fault

EuroTunnel, operator of the Channel Tunnel, has defended itself against accusations that rules governing the tunnel's use have stifled the growth of rail freight in the UK and across mainland Europe.

Last week it emerged that just 1.18 million tonnes of freight moved through the tunnel by rail in 2009, a fall of 5% compared with 2008.

DB Schenker Rail had blamed high tolls and complex rules on the tunnel's use for a lack of tonnage growth on rail freight, but a spokesman for EuroTunnel says it is "the responsibility of rail freight operators going through the tunnel" to increase their share of the freight market.

http://bit.ly/deNnLl

2010-02: Vessel Tracking Research Illustrates the “Global Highways”

WORLDWIDE – For anyone interested in how patterns of world trade are dominated by sea freight a new report from the Journal of the Royal Society Interface makes essential reading. It is a most comprehensive survey of the movements of 16,363 cargo vessels, including container ships, dry bulk carriers and tankers all over 10,000 gross tonnes taken from 2007 data.

http://bit.ly/aBhQQk