Ertms on 1,400 km of FS network
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (part of the FS Group) has completed the installation of the Ertms system across 1,400 kilometres of railway, reaching the medium-term target set by measure 1.4 of mission M3C1 under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project, funded with €2.5 billion, aims to extend Ertms coverage to around 2,800 kilometres by June 2026. The objective is to roll out the system, already in use on high-speed lines, across the entire network managed by RFI.
First freight trains depart from China to Turkey
The first two freight trains travelling directly from China to Turkey have departed from Chengdu and Chongqing, marking the launch of the first direct rail link between the two countries. The initiative is part of an agreement between China Railways and Turkish company Pasifik Eurasia, which foresees the passage of 1,000 trains per year along the Middle Corridor.
Arkas Line launches route between India and the Mediterranean
Arkas Line has announced the launch of the India Med Service (IMS), a new maritime route connecting the Greek ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki with the Indian ports of Nhava Sheva and Mundra. The service offers competitive transit times and enhanced access to key commercial markets. Transhipments are managed via a hub in Istanbul, ensuring fast and reliable connections through the Suez Canal.
Paccar recalls over 56,000 trucks in the US
Paccar has initiated the recall of 56,575 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks manufactured between 2023 and 2026 due to software malfunctions. The defect affects safety systems, causing irregular behaviour in brake lights, low beams, reversing lights and turn signals. Additionally, it may trigger unpredictable movements in lift axles, posing potential road safety risks.
Schmitt receives first electric lorries
Logistik Schmitt has taken delivery of the first five out of 23 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric trucks ordered. The German-based company, headquartered in Bietigheim, is expanding its use of electric vehicles into long-haul international transport. Since 2019, Schmitt has trialled a prototype eActros 300 on the route between Ötigheim and the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt. In 2021, these were replaced with pre-series units used in various logistics operations. Since 2023, the company has operated six eActros 300 vehicles for Daimler Truck. The new eActros 600, which has already been tested on routes between Germany and Hungary, now officially joins the fleet.
Iran seizes oil tanker carrying 2 million litres of fuel
On 16 July, Iranian authorities seized a foreign-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which was carrying 2 million litres of fuel. According to Mojtaba Ghahremani, head of the judiciary in Hormozgan province, the vessel lacked full documentation and is suspected of fuel smuggling. Seventeen people, including the captain and crew, have been arrested. The case has been opened in Jask, with laboratory analysis and document checks underway to determine the precise volume of fuel on board. The investigation is ongoing.
Hellmann opens subsidiary in Colombia
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has opened a wholly-owned subsidiary in Colombia, marking a strategic step in its expansion across the Americas. After nearly thirty years of operating in the country through local partners, including the acquisition of the HPL Apollo group, the company will now offer a full range of logistics services, including air and sea freight, customs clearance and contract logistics. According to CEO Jens Drewes, the move strengthens Hellmann’s ability to connect North and South American markets. The new office will serve as a strategic hub for both regional and global trade flows.
