New rail connections to Germany and Hungary

Rail operator Lineas and logistics service provider ECS are launching a new rail connection between Zeebrugge and Germany's Crailsheim, located between Stuttgart and Nuremberg. The train transports an average of 42 containers three times a week. Lineas and ECS remove 11,000 trucks from the road annually, reducing CO₂ emissions from transportation by approximately 2,600 tons each year. Currently dedicated exclusively to ECS containers, the train service is not available for other cargo. 

In Zeebrugge, the train departs from the P&O terminal (Leopold II Dam 13, quay 103-109). This connects the link to the existing rail and shortsea connections. 

• Containers loaded in Belgium, France, or the Netherlands can be unloaded there for transport to Crailsheim. 
• Containers arriving at the P&O terminal from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, or Portugal can be directly transferred onto the train. On arrival at the CLdN Zeebrugge terminal, containers can be shunted to the P&O terminal. 
   

The new rail connection is part of ECS's ambition to have 100 million kilometres travelled annually by rail by 2030. This process uses a new loading and unloading method that minimises loading times. The train unhitches the entire set of empty wagons and immediately connects to a set of loaded ones. As a result, the train completes the 751-kilometre route within 24 hours with exceptionally high punctuality.

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) launched a new rail connection between Antwerp and Duisburg in September. The train is part of its TransFER network, linking Antwerp with the Rhine-Ruhr region. The train offers two round trips per week, with a transit time of 7.5 hours. The service accommodates containers, wagon cargo, and hazardous materials compliant with RID standards. 

Duisburg and Antwerp are two central rail hubs in Europe. Duisburg, as Europe's largest inland port and a central hub in the Ruhr region. Antwerp as one of the most important seaports in Europe and a gateway to international markets. By linking the Rhine-Ruhr industrial region with Antwerp's industry, RCG enables seamless transport to and from Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the entire southern and southeastern European regions.

This new connection complements the existing TransFER Linz-Scandinavia-Wels route, which transports cargo from Duisburg/Rheinkamp to Malmö. As a result, departure and arrival times are perfectly synchronised. In addition to the new connection, the existing TransFER Linz-Duisburg-Wels route will be expanded from six to eight weekly departures. 
 

In October, ÖBB Rail Cargo Group launched a new connection between Zeebrugge and Budapest. This is the first direct train connection from Zeebrugge to Hungary. The train connects the P&O terminal in Zeebrugge with the BILK terminal in Budapest. 

With three round trips per week, this rail connection offers great flexibility and planning options. It is an open train that transports containers and other intermodal loading units. Thus, all cranable loading units, including 20-, 30-, 40-, and 45-foot containers, as well as 25- and 45-foot swap bodies, can be transported without issues, along with hazardous cargo in compliance with RID standards.

This new rail connection also allows for a smooth connection from Budapest to Istanbul. As a result, cargo flows from southeastern Europe and Turkey can easily reach Zeebrugge via Budapest, from where they are transported to the UK.