The UK government has announced a new interim target for rail freight growth, alongside its existing longer-term goal, in a statement to the House of Commons on September 8 by transport secretary Heidi Alexander.

The government previously committed to a target of at least a 75% increase in freight moved by rail, measured in net metric ton kilometers, by 2050. Alexander announced an additional milestone target of at least a 40% increase by 2040.

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DP World has reached a milestone in its US$800m investment program to modernize the Port of Tartous in Syria, completing delivery of three mobile harbor cranes intended to strengthen the country’s trade infrastructure.

The company said the cranes are expected to increase the port’s cargo-handling capacity by approximately 40%, enabling faster vessel turnaround and increased handling of containerized, bulk and breakbulk cargo.

The delivery marks a milestone under DP World’s 30-year concession agreement to develop and operate the port.

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Logistics UK has announced a strategic partnership with Axa UK to help fleet operators and members manage and reduce risk exposure.

The partnership is intended to help reduce risks associated with operating vehicle fleets of all sizes and to help operators identify potential issues before they escalate.

Jemma James, director of partnerships at Logistics UK, said, “We are delighted to be working in a strategic partnership with Axa to help increase risk awareness, and to support with various measures before they escalate.

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Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is officially open for business, with its first commercial freight flights taking off from its new 24-hour cargo precinct.

The launch marks a milestone for Australia’s supply chains, domestic producers and manufacturers, and Western Sydney’s air cargo capacity. WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the cargo hub would create opportunities across Greater Sydney’s businesses, workers and supply chains.

“Air freight underpins many of NSW’s highest-value industries including fresh meat and seafood, pharmaceuticals, agricultural exports, electronics, advanced manufacturing and more,” Hickey said.

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A Qantas Airbus A321 has become the first freighter aircraft to land at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), touching down as part of a readiness flight ahead of regular freight operations.

Flight QF7301 landed at WSI at 2:00pm, helping validate key operational processes at the airport’s new Cargo Precinct, including aircraft handling, ground operations, systems, airside coordination and cargo transfer procedures.

Regular domestic freighter operations from WSI will begin on July 27, with the new terminal expected to handle more than 850 metric tons of freight each week.

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DHL Global Forwarding has launched a new dedicated Transpacific air cargo service connecting Bangkok (BKK) and Cincinnati (CVG), operating three times weekly as part of its new TransPac Connect solution.

The service uses high-capacity wide-body freighter operations, offering up to 100 tons per flight, complemented by road feeder connectivity across the United States.

Beyond the Bangkok-Cincinnati route, TransPac Connect gives customers broader access to DHL Global Forwarding’s Transpacific network through coverage in Hanoi in Vietnam and Taipei in Taiwan, connecting shipments to US gateways including Cincinnati and Chicago (ORD).

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GoExpress has published headline results from a four-week high-speed, low-carbon rail logistics trial on the UK’s West Coast Main Line, which the company describes as the UK’s first high-speed middle-mile operation at a sustained maximum speed of 90mph (145km/h).

Using energy-efficient tri-mode locomotives hauling 16m high-cube containers, GoExpress ran 54 special test trains on dedicated high-speed paths provided by Network Rail. The trial was funded by the Department for Transport‘s Freight Innovation Fund and supported by Connected Places Catapult, Network Rail, the Rail Safety and Standards Board, industry experts, academia and parcel operator DPD.

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UPS has announced it will invest US$48m in 27 temperature-controlled freight cross-dock facilities at locations around the world, including the USA, Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The facilities will be optimized for speed and short-term storage between air and ground movements and will strengthen the company’s global cold-chain network as industry demand for temperature-sensitive biologics continues to grow. According to Growth Market Reports, the market is projected to expand at an 8.3% compound annual growth rate through 2033, reaching an estimated US$39.1bn.

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A P Moller–Maersk has announced the launch of FI2, a new dedicated weekly ocean service connecting Far East Asia to the Indian Subcontinent, with the first westbound sailing departing Shanghai, China, on June 4, 2026.

The service was introduced in response to growing customer demand for additional capacity on the China-India trade route. It will be operated with a fleet of six vessels, each with a nominal capacity of 4,500 TEU, following the port rotation: Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Tanjung Pelepas – Nhava Sheva – Pipavav – Port Qasim.

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FedEx has announced a €46m ($54.1m) investment to expand its road hub in Duiven in the Netherlands, increasing freight capacity and reinforcing the country’s role as a key European logistics gateway.

The investment will fund the procurement and development of a neighboring facility, with palletized freight handling capacity set to increase by more than 50%. The expansion will also add 65 dock doors, bringing the total on site to 265.

Safia Ladhari, managing director of network operations at FedEx, said the Duiven facility is “one of the largest and most technologically advanced FedEx road hubs within the European Road Network,” adding that its continental connectivity makes it “central” to the company’s European service offering.

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