The Port of Hamburg has highlighted regular rail connections from Cologne and Duisburg as an alternative for container traffic affected by persistent low water levels on the Rhine.
Low water is continuing to restrict inland waterway transport, reducing available capacity and contributing to longer transit times and higher costs. According to the port, export shipments routed through Antwerp and Rotterdam are particularly affected by the disruption.
Hamburg said combined transport services linking Cologne and Duisburg with its seaport terminals can support cargo owners seeking to move containers independently of conditions on the river. The connections are operated by HGK Logistics and Intermodal GmbH and IGS Intermodal Container Logistics GmbH.
The services provide an alternative to barge transport on the Rhine and are available for both export and import cargo. Export containers can be moved from the inland hubs to Hamburg for onward shipment, while import boxes discharged at the port can travel by rail to Cologne and Duisburg.
The port said the direct connection with its terminals provides more predictable transit times and allows companies to maintain container movements when low water restricts barge operations. It also described the rail option as economically efficient and environmentally sound.
Hamburg has advised cargo owners to plan transport arrangements at an early stage while the restrictions remain in place. HGK and IGS are supporting companies that want to transfer container volumes from inland waterways to rail and can develop arrangements based on individual transport requirements.
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The announcement positions the rail connections as a practical response to disruption on the Rhine rather than a new service launch. Both operators already provide regular combined transport links between western Germany and Hamburg.
The same connections can be used in either direction, allowing importers as well as exporters to make use of the alternative. This means cargo arriving at Hamburg can continue inland towards Cologne and Duisburg without relying on river conditions, while export containers can be routed north to the port.
The Port of Hamburg said the links are designed to maintain a continuous transport chain between inland locations and its maritime terminals. Their operation is not dependent on Rhine water levels, providing an option when barge capacity becomes limited.
The port did not specify how much additional rail capacity is available or how long the low-water restrictions are expected to continue. It instead urged early planning and direct engagement with the two intermodal operators while conditions remain challenging.
For more information:
Port of Hamburg – https://www.hafen-hamburg.de/
