#Business Consulting
#Supply Chain
New rail connection to Switzerland increases multimodal capacity of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Following the merger of the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Zeebrugge earlier this year under the name Port of Antwerp-Bruges, additional rail capacity has now been announced. With the launch of its new connection to the Swiss Rhine Port of Birsfelden, the intermodal network will be further strengthened.
The Antwerp–Athus–Birsfelden route will focus on containers with maritime cargo. The containers will be transported from Antwerp and Zeebrugge to Birsfelden (near Basel). There were already 12 trains a week going from Zeebrugge and Antwerp to Athus, near the border with Luxembourg, which is connected with the industrial clusters of Luxembourg, the Saarland and Lorraine. The expansion of the rail freight service started with a weekly service between the maritime cluster in the north and the left bank of the Rhine.
More sustainability and stability
This project should contribute to meeting environmental targets, with the train service taking many trucks off the road. Not only will it reduce CO2 emissions, it will also tackle traffic congestion. The port authority has set itself the target of transporting at least 20% of freight by rail by 2030.
As well as making transport greener, increasing intermodal capacity ensures greater stability in the Supply Chain. With increasing road congestion and a growing shortage of truck drivers, rail transport will become an attractive opportunity for more and more companies.
Looking for a more sustainable and resilient Supply Chain network? Moore can put you on the right track. If you have any questions about the planning or integration of international transport, please contact one of our experts.
