The Port of Rotterdam has announced that Modal 3 Logistik will run a shuttle twice a week back and forth between Rotterdam and Magdeburg in central Germany.
It is the first time the German logistics service provider has launched a direct train shuttle to Rotterdam.
Mats Lüer, Managing Director of Modal 3 Logistik, said: “There was increasing demand from our clients for this service. What also plays a role is that there are no direct rail services between Rotterdam and this part of Germany yet.
“Partly thanks to the short transit, within 24 hours, we notice that there is already a high demand from the fast-moving consumer goods industry, but also from automotive and tech.
“This is also due to the fact that there are good connections to Berlin and Leipzig as well as other cities.”
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On Sundays and Wednesdays, the container shuttle will depart from Rotterdam and arrive in Magdeburg on Mondays and Thursdays, respectively. It will service all Maasvlakte container ports in Rotterdam.
Modal 3’s own trucking business in Germany helps to provide first and last mile transport in both Magdeburg and Rotterdam.
Raillogix will act as rail operator and employ the in-house railfreight carrier Rail Force One as well as Railrelease waggons.
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“We expect the timetable to be expanded to three round trips per week in the coming months,” Lüer added.
“Many clients appreciate the speed and reliability of rail transport, and the fact that rail transport is much more sustainable than road transport over these long distances also plays an increasingly important role.”
According to Routescanner, every train of 96 TEU that travels back and forth once a week saves more than 3 million kilogrammes of CO2 emissions compared to vehicle transport.
Hans Nagtegaal, Director Containers at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, stated: “We are delighted with this new rail service from Rotterdam.
“It provides more than just a new rail service to a German region. It also means fewer trucks on the Dutch and German motorways and thus less risk of traffic jams and accidents.”
