photo: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineas#/media/Datei:G%C3%BCterzug_mit_Railpool-Lokomotive,_Lineas-Lackierung,_K%C3%B6ln-6680.jpg/Lineas
Lineas has launched a new intermodal transport service route. It runs between the port of Moerdijk in the Netherlands and Antwerp in Belgium. Lineas refers to this service as theXpress train.
The train runs on the route three times a week. This increases the frequency of transport between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. The transport capacity reaches 540 TEU per week. With the creation of the new Xpress train, half of this capacity will be transferred to the route from Antwerp to the port of Moerdijk and back. The second half will continue to be going to the port of Rotterdam.
Thanks to the large railway junction in Antwerp, the freight carried by Lineas can move throughout Europe within Lineas' leading network, the so-called Green Xpress.
“This Xpress is another step towards a larger network with so many destinations like Poland, Romania or Milan. Through Antwerp, the Port of Moerdijk is connected to another logistical hub,” commercial director of the Port of Moerdijk, Jayand Baladien said.
Moerdijk is a very important transport hub with its port. Currently, the port transports about 2,000 ocean-going ships a year. There are even more inland, about 11,500 waterway vessels per year. The port also plans further investments in its development, especially in the area of its logistics park, which has an area of 140 hectares.
“We are the largest inland container port in the Netherlands and a major distribution hub. Annually, we handle some 690,000 TEUs in our port. Our position between the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Rotterdam, is perfect to ship freight onto the hinterland. And rail is a crucial part of that operation,” Baladien added.
Thanks to this new rail connection, Lineas is once again one step closer to its goal of connecting all major West European ports. In addition to the port of Moerdijk, Lineas currently serves Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge and Le Havre.