Image: TrueLedger

The names include «Haidi.io», an energy project «Neology Hydrogen», and procurement software «Wantex»: A presentation event for start-ups, scheduled for Thursday, January 18th, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Innovation Park in Biel, promises a wealth of innovative ideas. 

Image: reFuel.ch

Nine Swiss universities, colleges and research institutions from different disciplines are involved in a consortium called «reFuel.ch», funded by the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), which started in December.

Photo: Swissmem

The Swiss metal industry association Swissmem views the dramatic appreciation of the Swiss franc against the euro and the US dollar as a threat to the tech industry, which exports 80% of its products. This development is detrimental to companies already struggling with a sharp decline in orders due to the industrial recession.

Performing track work, repairing points, adjusting contact wires, and positioning overhead lines are among the numerous tasks for which so-called "road-rail trucks" are used. Scania tested two of these specialized vehicles on a disused section of track between Etzwilen and Singen.

One of the most versatile commercial vehicles Mercedes-Benz has ever produced is the Unimog. Tests and measurements have now been carried out on a section of highway to see if the vehicle would function reliably in practical use when fueled with liquid hydrogen, at low temperatures, and in challenging topography.

Photo: DB Cargo

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel in Germany,” says Rouven Kötter (SPD), First Deputy of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Regional Association, “to get more freight traffic onto the rails.” But a little more assertiveness seems to be needed. That’s why there are now “rail coaches.”. 

Jan Eberle, head of the Lean & Green initiative coordinated by GS1 in Switzerland, is pleased about the new collaboration; and Professor Maike Scherrer, head of the research focus Sustainable Supply Chain Management, about the combination of knowledge from research and practice. 

Logistics provider DB Schenker (Switzerland) in recent put two new CNG-powered trucks into operation km, a range of are used for pre- and post-haulage as well as city logistics at the Pfungen branch. 

The last remaining gap in the Stuttgart-Ulm high-speed rail line has been closed. Unfortunately, this does not close a newly discovered funding gap, which, according to multiple press reports, is expected to increase by another €1.7 billion for the new through station in the Baden-Württemberg state capital and the overall €11 billion Stuttgart 21 project. 

Heavy commercial vehicles are making significant progress in the implementation of electromobility. However, there are still alternatives worth considering. New 13-liter biogas engines for bio-LNG and bio-CNG also allow long distances to be covered in a sustainable, CO2_-reduced manner.

Photo: Siemens Mobility

Seven Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains, built by Siemens in Krefeld, are now completing their first kilometers on a test track in Wegberg-Wildenrath. Accompanied by extensive testing, they will be gradually put into operation.

 Photo: klk.

Designwerk Technologies' eTrucks have broken the 1000 kWh barrier. The battery packs are correspondingly enormous. The electric vehicle pioneers are now cutting through the debate surrounding charging infrastructure with a "Mega Charger" housed in a container. The development is promising, and Galliker is the premium customer. 

Everyone who is anyone in Swiss railway policy – ​​and beyond – is expected to attend the National Railway Congress on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the Novartis Campus in Basel. The focus will be on the future of rail transport in 2050.

 Port of Poti (Georgia)

, the transport market is seeking – instead of via Moscow – new routes from Europe through the Caucasus to the Chinese border. A new corridor has emerged as an alternative. Hamburg-based HHLA is participating in this route with its "hinterland transport" by rail. 

 Photo: LKZ

A consultant from Berlin will advise the transport industry, shippers, municipalities, and institutions on the implementation of logistics processes and refueling/charging infrastructure for transalpine freight transport. A corresponding agreement has been concluded with the Prien Logistics Competence Center.