Samskip launches Duisburg-Rostock rail link

Samskip has added over 10% capacity to its multimodal connections between Germany and Scandinavia as a result of launching three-times weekly block train services connecting Duisburg and Rostock together with Hector Rail.

The all-electric train service links the Duisburg Hohenbudberg terminal and the Rostock Trimodal terminal for coordination with the port’s ro-ro ferry services. It creates a significant additional new routing option to connect Germany’s Ruhr area and the south-east of the Netherlands with Sweden’s key Stockholm/Gävle/Örebro/Jönköping region, Finland and other Baltic markets.

Departing from Duisburg on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the 700m length trains arrive in Rostock on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to coincide with Hansa Destination ferry connections to Nynäshamn (south of Stockholm). Entering the market in August 2021, Hansa has developed substantial freight volumes into and out of the Swedish midlands, with the regular Nynäshamn call periodically augmented by stopovers at Visby.

The Duisburg-Rostock rail link also means Samskip can offer additional service options direct into southern Sweden and Finland by coordinating with separate daily ferry departures to Trelleborg, Kotka, Hanka and Rauma.

Samskip already offers an extensive network of containerised rail services connecting Duisburg with destinations in Sweden, operating its own block trains into Katrineholm, Falköping and Nässjö 14 times a week.

“Hector Rail is delighted to be able to expand its excellent long-term cooperation with Samskip by establishing a two-way intermodal offer between the Ruhr area and Scandinavia,” commented Stig Kyster-Hansen Managing Director of Hector Rail GmbH.

Shortsea operations out of Rostock represent a strategic addition to transport options for all types of multimodal freight customers, according to Gert-Jan Meijer, Head of Trade, Sweden, Samskip. In addition to offering capacity for ISO containers, Mega trailers and P400 trailers, wagons deployed accommodate non-cranable trailers, opening the new route to a wide range of third party and shippers’ own equipment.

“There has been a clear need to increase capacity between Germany and Scandinavia based on growing trade volumes and new requests, but high diesel prices and continuing driver shortages are also steering more cargo away from the road,” said Meijer. “Offering an additional high-frequency service option consolidates the competitive edge that multimodal  has over road haulage in terms of reliability in the supply chain.”

Thomas Vitte, Commercial Manager of Hector Rail GmbH, added: “Through this broader service offer it will be possible to attract more cargo to rail with an even more competitive and efficient product, thereby enhancing sustainable transport solutions between Germany and Scandinavia.”

The capacity boost comes during a period of opportunity for multimodal in Europe, whose lower emissions align with sustainability goals set by corporates. EU Mobility Package measures to improve haulier conditions are also driving road freight out of the market.

High frequency in rail services strengthens the case for sustainable transport, Meijer commented. “Our larger customers want to do more using lower carbon options, new customers are knocking on the door and it’s fair to say that there is a general mood in Germany that now is the time to switch away from road.”

The combination of all-electric rail traction, short sea economies of scale, short last-mile over the road operations and flexibility on unitised options “epitomises what Samskip is striving to deliver in sustainable connections for the European logistics market”, said Meijer. “We want to thank Hector Rail, Hansa Destinations and the Port of Rostock and to celebrate this joint effort in ‘Making Green Logistics easy’.”

 

TX Logistik tests 838m train in Sweden

TX Logistik AB, Swedish subsidiary of Germany’s TX Logistik AG, has test-run a freight train with a length of 838 meters in Sweden. The rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), operated the fully loaded train on the approximately 500km route between Malmö and Frövi (Örebro province). Foodstuffs from the Swedish retail chain Coop were transported. The Swedish transport infrastructure authority Trafikverket was the third partner involved in the test run.

So far, only trains with a maximum length of 630m are permitted on most routes in Sweden. “An expansion to 838m would significantly increase transport capacities and thus make rail freight transport even more efficient and attractive for shippers,” says Lars Winther Sørensen, Managing Director of TX Logistik AB in Sweden. This is in turn an essential prerequisite for shifting more goods from road to rail. Even for goods that have so far been transported almost exclusively by road, Sørensen believes that more extensive use of rail is possible.

The use of longer trains is also an important impulse for climate-smart rail transport. In particular, the combination of high load capacity per train and high speed ensures a highly productive transport system. The test train carried 48 semitrailers and travelled at speeds of up to 120km/h. This was faster than trains in comparable test runs in other countries. It was driven by a four-axle locomotive, which is normally used in rail freight transport.

Coop has been transporting food and other goods by rail in Sweden since 2009. From 2012, TX Logistik has been operating on behalf of the retail chain between Bro, 30km northwest of Stockholm, and Malmö. Just two years ago, the number of round trips was doubled from 10 to 20.

“Today, 30%of our transports are handled by rail,” explains Peter Rosendahl, transport manager at Coop Logistik. The retail chain would like to increase the share further. “That’s why we participated in this forward-looking project and hope to be able to extend our trains in the near future.”

TX Logistik, Coop and Trafikverket worked closely together to plan and implement the two test runs on 8th and 9th May 2022. Further tests in Sweden are planned.

 

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