New Zealand: A severe South Island winter storm in NZ has closed KiwiRail’s Main North Line between Blenheim and Christchurch, with reopening targeted for Wednesday 15 July, weather permitting. KiwiRail has stood up a road-bridging service between Blenheim and Christchurch to keep critical and Dangerous Goods freight moving but is not accepting new Inter-Island rail bookings while it clears the backlog, so shippers should plan for possible delays on Inter-Island and domestic freight until the line reopens. Carriers are also advising of delays and equipment shortages. Additionally, New Zealand’s domestic freight network continues to face capacity and reliability challenges. Changes to coastal shipping services, reduced inter-island transport capacity, and ongoing operational constraints may result in longer transit times and less schedule certainty for domestic cargo movements. Weather-related disruptions can further compound these issues. Customers are encouraged to allow additional lead time for shipments, particularly those requiring inter-island transport, and to maintain flexibility in their supply chain planning where possible.
Germany: Low Rhine water levels have triggered low-water surcharges at inland terminals on the waterway. The Cologne gauge fell to 0.98m, the threshold at which barge transport becomes difficult. If you have cargo moving through the inland waterway, please plan for additional transit time, or seek alternative transport modes. We will continue to provide updates on this situation as they become available.