Schwarzheide: Metrans Expands Network Further

Metrans, the intermodal subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), began serving the terminal in Schwarzheide in Brandenburg this week. In doing so, Metrans is expanding its own network once again and enhancing its services in eastern Saxony and south-eastern Brandenburg.

The terminal in Schwarzheide, which is operated by Bertschi Global Logistics, is situated on the rail link between Germany’s seaports and Ceska Trebova, Metrans’ second Czech hub terminal, after Prague. Metrans is the first company to offer regular rail services linking the terminal with the Port of Hamburg and the inland Czech hub Ceska Trebova. The BASF factory in Schwarzheide, on whose premises the terminal is located, will also benefit from this. Metrans will use its own locomotives and carriages for the rail services and is therefore independent of external service providers.

The terminal has six railway tracks and a container storage area for 1,700 containers. The portal crane has a span of 90 metres. The Metrans trains to and from Schwarzheide can carry all of the containers and tank containers permitted in intermodal transport, ranging from 20 to 45 feet.

Klaus-Dieter Peters, Chairman of HHLA’s Executive Board, explains: “The terminal in Schwarzheide is an additional element that will enable us to make our intermodal network even denser. We will benefit from this in several ways: We can bring cargo to our container terminals and also make even better use of capacities at our hub terminal in Ceska Trebova. Our goal remains to operate the most efficient and effective intermodal network for container transport in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe.”

Jiri Samek, Managing Director of the Metrans Group, highlights the importance of the facility: “Schwarzheide is an important addition to the Leipzig and Usti nad Labem locations, which we already serve. It means that we are specifically expanding our services for eastern Saxony and south-eastern Brandenburg. By incorporating the location into the Metrans network, we will be able to offer our customers regular transportation services for internal European cargo between Schwarzheide and Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. It will also enable us to better reposition empty containers from the Czech and Slovakian depots. We will be using our own rolling stock for the Schwarzheide rail services as well. This will mean greater reliability, which our customers will benefit from. We are therefore continuing to market ourselves as a premium service provider.”


Metrans only commenced operations at its own terminal in Usti nad Labem on the German-Czech border at the start of the year.