Dfds boosts Baltic capacity
Dfds has reached an agreement to charter the vessel Ciudad de Valencia on the Karlshamn–Klaipeda Baltic route, with entry into service scheduled for mid-September 2026. The unit will replace Optima Seaways and significantly increase available capacity for both passengers and freight on one of the group’s key Baltic links. Built in 2020, the vessel can carry up to 950 passengers and offers 2,562 lane metres of cargo space, including capacity for 250 cars. The company states that the ferry will almost triple passenger capacity compared with the unit it will replace, while also adding useful freight space. Ciudad de Valencia features 159 cabins, public areas with restaurants and bars, children’s spaces and a dedicated pet area, reflecting a configuration geared towards mixed passenger-freight traffic. Dfds currently operates two combined freight and passenger ferries on the Karlshamn–Klaipeda route and four additional vessels on Baltic links between Germany and Sweden, Sweden and Estonia, and Denmark and Lithuania. In 2025, the company signed a capacity-sharing agreement with TT-Line covering all departures between Klaipeda and Karlshamn.
Rail alliance in Rotterdam
Rail operators active on the Port of Rotterdam network have launched a pilot project for operational cooperation involving companies representing 70% of market share. The initiative introduces a shared system allowing operators to take over train operations from one another in the event of capacity constraints. The six participants are Rail Force One, Hsl Netherlands, DB Cargo Netherlands, Rtb Cargo, Lte and Rail Cargo Group, using a dedicated application called Portflow. According to the Port of Rotterdam, the shunting agreement is necessary to ensure clarity and operational certainty during works across the entire port rail infrastructure. The protocol defines standard procedures for the administrative and physical transfer of trains and sets out responsibilities between contractors and clients. The project, named Track Together, will run for an initial seven-month pilot phase. Its operational objective is to reduce cancellations and prolonged delays through more flexible management of rail resources. The port notes that terminals will benefit from greater track availability, freeing capacity for other scheduled trains. The initiative also aims to improve information sharing among operators, increasing the overall efficiency of the port rail system.
Digital evolution of FS Logistix
FS Logistix unveiled in Paris, during the Sitl trade fair, the new 2.0 widget of the fslogistix.com platform, an evolution of the digital system launched in May 2025. The solution introduces an interaction model that transforms a customer request into a dedicated transport proposal. The widget enables immediate visualisation of available journey options across the network. The platform integrates a map with operational data including kilometres, transit times, equipment used and CO2 savings. The aim is to support informed decisions aligned with customers’ logistics requirements. According to the company, the online release is scheduled for May 2026. The development forms part of an industrial strategy based on digitalisation, intermodality and sustainability. FS Logistix confirms the platform’s role as a single access point for services across the logistics chain. The initiative is accompanied by a strengthening of its presence in the French and wider European markets. In this context, the Milano Segrate–Paris Valenton connection reinforces the Italy–France axis and integration with European corridors.
Concern over Tarvisio closure
The planned closure of the Tarvisio rail crossing for three months between 2027 and 2028 has emerged as a major concern for logistics in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with expected impacts on links between the Port of Trieste and Central European markets. During a regional transport coordination meeting held in Udine by councillor Cristina Amirante with logistics system operators, the need emerged to prepare technical and policy measures in advance to contain the disruption. According to discussions at the meeting, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Orientale (Eastern Adriatic Sea Port Authority) has called for the establishment of a dedicated working group focused on rail network issues. The situation is further complicated by the complete closure of the Udine–Tarvisio line from 22 August to 20 September 2026 for maintenance and upgrade works by Rfi, with freight traffic mainly diverted via the Brenner route and additional closures already scheduled for 2027 and 2028. This is compounded by disruptions along the Latisana–Trieste Centrale and Udine–Cervignano lines, with operational difficulties between Cervignano Smistamento and Cervignano Aquileia Grado. In discussions with operators, the option of extraordinary subsidies for road transport was also considered, in order to shift part of the cargo to Villach for train formation, while issues related to high energy costs and the regional ferrobonus scheme remain unresolved.
