All Rail articles – Page 4
-
Feature
In-depth analysis: strong logistics and supply base central to Ford’s new Mexico plant
Ford is the latest carmaker to plan a new assembly plant in Mexico with the announcement that it will invest $1.6 billion in a factory in San Luis Potosi to produce compact cars from 2018.The plant is aimed at making the assembly of smaller cars more profitable for the company, ...
-
Feature
North American rail: One door closes, another opens
North American railways have seen big falls in revenue as a result of drops in energy commodities, but the rise in automotive presents an opportunity to capture more business and better serve customersOver the past year there has been a major shift in certain commodity shipment volumes across North American ...
-
Feature
FCA: Making hay while the sun shines
After six years basking in the glow of rising US sales, and now enjoying low fuel prices, Fiat Chrysler needs to improve productivity today before things change again, says Marc Brazeau, head of outbound and Mexico logistics in North AmericaA team on a long winning streak can build momentum that ...
-
Feature
Binding ambition at Toyota Manufacturing UK
TMUK is developing its logistics efficiency even more closely in line with the Toyota Production System and proving it can manage complex supply chain changes, writes Ian HenryThe UK is an important manufacturing hub for Toyota within its European operations, and a prime example of how carmakers have tightly integrated ...
-
Feature
Gefco supports BMW with Silk Road rail shipments
BMW is working with transport and logistics provider Gefco on trial shipments of vehicles in containers between Europe and China.Gefco has recently completed a second trail shipment involving 40 BMW 1-series cars that were transported between Regensburg in Germany and Chengdu in China. It followed a pilot trial carried out ...
-
Feature
Brussels attacks raise further questions over Schengen zone
Cargo transport and freight operations started to resume today (March 23rd) following the terrorist attacks at Brussels Zaventem airport and on the city’s metro line on Tuesday – including the restart of production at Audi’s factory near the city (pictured).With heightened security across European airports, rail stations and a number ...
-
Feature
Deutsche Bahn poised to sell off stake in Schenker logistics unit
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is considering selling off a stake in Schenker, its logistics division, in 2018, alongside the part privatisation of Arriva, the UK public transport provider, which DB took over in 2010.A spokesperson for DB Schenker would only confirm that the company’s executive board was in “close and constructive ...
-
Feature
ACL committed to Halifax; will double volume through the port
Atlantic Container Line (ACL) will maintain its twice-weekly call at the Canadian port of Halifax using its new G4 ro-ro/container ships. The company said it would continue to serve the North American and European markets at the Fairview Cove Container Terminal operated by Ceres Halifax."We looked long and hard at ...
-
Feature
DB Schenker Rail renamed DB Cargo
At the beginning of March, Deutsche Bahn has renamed its rail freight business – DB Schenker Rail – as DB Cargo and is now using the DB logo. All companies in Germany and abroad that currently have DB Schenker Rail in their name will be integrated into the new naming ...
-
Feature
Indian Railways launches auto rail hub in Chennai as part of wider rail freight plans
[Updated 3rd March] Indian Railways has inaugurated its first common user finished vehicle rail hub at Walajabad station, in Chennai in the south of India, close to a cluster of assembly plants. The hub is part of the Indian government’s plan to increase the movement of vehicles by rail in ...
-
Feature
Ceva launches weekly LCL service between China and Hungary
In February Ceva Logistics launched a new weekly less-than-container load (LCL) service between China and Hungary, with the majority of cargo volume accounted for by the automotive industry.The weekly service, which runs between the port of Shanghai and Budapest, currently goes via the Adriatic port of Koper in Slovenia. Containers ...
-
Feature
Subaru expanding Lafayette plant, with logistics support from WWL
Subaru of America’s latest $140m investment to expand its facility in Lafayette, Indiana, which is underway and due for completion next year, will increase annual capacity by 100,000 units to 450,000. To support the increase in outbound volumes, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has just announced it will double its workforce ...
-
Feature
Adampol starts operations at Naberezhnye Chelny for Ford Sollers
Polish logistics and transport provider, Adampol, has started volume operations at a 6-hectare distribution compound adjacent to the Ford Sollers' plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia. The services are being carried out through its Russian division Vectura.The compound, which represents an investment of more than €3m ($3.3m) by Adampol, is handling ...
-
Feature
ATK opts for containers to cut vehicle delivery times from China to Russia
Russian finished vehicle transport provider, ATK, reports that it has cut delivery times on imports from China by more than half, by shipping them by rail in containers.“In 2015, we transported four container trains stacked with 800 vehicles from Wuhan to Moscow,” ATK’s spokesperson, Sergey Kuvshinov said. “Containerisation gives us ...
-
Feature
Hamann replaces Brandl in head automotive role at Union Pacific
Linda Brandl (pictured) has left her role as vice-president and general manager of automotive at Union Pacific, and moved to a similar position overseeing the US rail provider’s coal commodity group. Brandl took up the new role at the beginning of February.Brandl is now responsible for managing Union Pacific's coal ...
-
Feature
Mexico conference: Rail and truck capacity challenges
If Mexico’s automotive production figures reach more than 5m in 2020, as they are forecast to do, it will put a significant strain on Mexico’s rail and truck infrastructure. It is no secret that more trucks and railcars will be needed to cope, and infrastructure projects will need to be ...
-
Feature
Mexico Conference report: On the borderline of change
The second Automotive Logistics Mexico conference, held in Mexico City, saw hundreds of executives and officials discuss how best to ensure that the country’s fast-growing automotive production and supply chain will be fit for purpose by 2020 and beyond. Christopher Ludwig reports on plenty of progress, as well as reasons ...
-
Feature
Mexico conference: Audi adapts logistics for San José Chiapa
When Audi starts series production later this year of the Q5 SUV crossover at its new plant in San José Chiapa, in the state of Puebla, Mexico, it will begin one of the most complex operations for parts handling and logistics in the country, with tremendous variety and customisation in ...
-
Feature
Mexico conference: BMW’s global plans for San Luis Potosi
BMW has mapped out its logistics plans so far for its upcoming plant in San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico, revealing a global supply chain, streamlined internal logistics and ambitions for a highly diverse outbound distribution. The plant is scheduled to come online in 2019 with an initial capacity for ...
-
Feature
Rail providers look for balance as coal revenues plummet
The largest ever decline in coal production recorded in the US in 2015 has hit revenues at several of the North American Class 1 rail companies, with drops in revenue from that commodity of between 30%-40% recorded in the fourth quarter. At the same time, revenues from automotive shipments have ...