Live Coverage: Stena Line Rail Ferry and the Future of Resilient Intermodal Transport

RAILTARGET brings you live updates from the Stena Line Rail Ferry webinar, organized by UIRR and SGKV. Experts will discuss the strategic importance of rail ferries, their role in resilient transport corridors, and the policy support needed for sustainable intermodal freight solutions.

14:00 Inga Gurries opens the webinar with introductory remarks, pointing out the long-term goal of improving rail ferry services and the necessary adjustments in ports to support this vision. She mentions the strategic importance of seamless rail-sea connections and sets the stage for today’s discussion. She then introduces the panel of speakers:

• Mikko Juelich, Managing Director at Stena Line GmbH & Co KG,
• Torgny Nilsson, Business Development at Port of Trelleborg,
• Dr. Gernot Tesch, Managing Director at Port of Rostock.

They will provide insights into rail ferry operations from both the operator’s perspective and the viewpoint of port authorities, discussing the current state of services, challenges, and future developments.

14:05 Mikko Juelich, Managing Director of Stena Line GmbH & Co KG, introduces Stena Line, emphasizing its Swedish roots and family-owned tradition. He reflects on the company’s foundation by Sten Allan Olsson, who grew up in a small fishing community, instilling values of hard work, care, and reliability that still guide the business today.

Juelich talks about Stena Line’s scale, with extensive ferry operations, a large workforce, and significant freight and passenger volumes. As part of Stena AB, the company operates across multiple sectors, from ferry transport to offshore drilling and property.

14:10 Mikko Juelich continues by presenting the Rostock-Trelleborg corridor as a key hub for freight distribution in Europe. He mentions Stena Line’s commitment to long-term investments in rail ferry infrastructure, ensuring high-frequency and reliable service with six sailings per day and a 1,000-meter rail capacity per sailing.

Sustainability is a core focus, with AI-driven solutions, silicon painting for fuel efficiency, and onshore power supply reducing emissions. To secure the future of its fleet, Stena Line is committed to extending ferry lifespans by at least 15 years through major refits of onboard machinery.

14:15 Torgny Nilsson, who’s been with the Port of Trelleborg for 12 years, takes the stage. He notes that the port currently hosts three shipping lines but is pushing for more rail connections, including intermodal options. With an eye on new destinations, they’re focused on expanding infrastructure to strengthen Trelleborg’s role in European freight transport.

14:20 Dr. Gernot Tesch, Managing Director of Port of Rostock, takes the stage to talk about what makes the port unique and its key advantages. He describes Rostock as Germany’s largest and only deep-sea port on the Baltic Sea, strategically positioned just one hour from the open sea. With a 750-hectare port area and 47 berths along 11 km of quay, it offers ample space for expansion and settlement opportunities.

Dr. Tesch emphasizes the port’s advanced ferry and Ro/Ro terminal, which plays a crucial role in connecting continental Europe with Scandinavia. The rail infrastructure is another major strength, featuring 54 km of rail tracks within the port, a 180 km shunting yard, and a EUR 300 million investment from DB InfraGo for modernization. With strong hinterland rail links and available track capacity, Rostock ensures efficient cargo movement beyond the port.

He also highlights the intermodal terminal, designed for seamless transfers between ferry, Ro/Ro, and rail operations. Operating 24/7, year-round, it is undergoing further expansion to enhance connectivity.

14:30 Konstantinos Tsesmetsis, Spokesperson for ScanMed Corridor, presents the corridor perspective, focusing on capacity planning, digital integration, and operational efficiency. He mentions the importance of including operational teams in capacity planning to better anticipate and manage delays while maintaining service reliability. A key priority is developing a robust digital platform that enables real-time data exchange, improving decision-making and response times.

Tsesmetsis talks about the need for harmonized operations and procedures at transport hubs to streamline loading, unloading, and transshipment. He also stresses the importance of an integrated booking and tracking system, covering both rail and ferry segments, to enhance cargo visibility and tracking capabilities. For better planning, early customer involvement is vital to ensure that their needs are addressed from the start, leading to a more efficient and responsive transport network.

14:35 Mikko Juelich, Managing Director of Stena Line GmbH & Co KG, returns to discuss the policy measures needed to maximize efficiency and ensure long-term success. He notes that recent political changes in Sweden and internal shifts within Stena Line have reinforced the relevance of rail ferry investments. The company has committed significant funds to upgrading two ships, ensuring high reliability and service quality for customers.

Looking ahead, he stresses that emission reduction policies will play a key role in shaping the industry. Investing in infrastructure expansion is critical, as current structures are not yet fully optimized for efficiency. He points out that production costs have risen by 20%, making private rail cargo transport more expensive. To counter this, stronger rail connections along key links are necessary to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.

14:40 Dr. Gernot Tesch, Legal and Development Manager – Port of Rostock, discusses the challenges and strategic importance of maintaining alternative transport routes beyond fixed links. He acknowledges that land routes have faced breakdowns in the past, and while technical failures and maintenance are inevitable, the real issue arises when no alternative routes are available. Rostock should not function merely as an emergency bypass but should be utilized consistently throughout the year, ensuring stable traffic flow rather than just covering disruptions.

Dr. Tesch also touches on the upcoming Fehmarn Belt connection, emphasizing that while it will benefit passenger traffic between Denmark and Sweden, rail freight requires more intermodal solutions to handle long-distance and commuter trains. He warns that without proper infrastructure planning, Sweden risks becoming an "island" in freight logistics, lacking alternative routes in case of disruptions.

Regarding political and financial support, he notes that while Sweden has commissioned a study to assess necessary support measures, Germany has yet to take similar action. With elections influencing priorities in Berlin, financial aid for port infrastructure remains uncertain. He mentions the unfair competition between state-supported fixed links and private operators, making it riskier for ports to attract investments. To remain competitive, he stresses the need for a comprehensive support framework, including specialized ferries, improved efficiencies, and long-term commitments to ensure the sustainability of rail ferry connections.

14:45 Torgny Nilsson, Business Development at Port of Trelleborg, takes the stage again, discussing the port’s ongoing developments and solutions for smoother operations. He says that after 12-14 years of relocation efforts, the port is now almost complete, with the last major step being the new eastern entrance. Currently, morning truck arrivals face slight delays when rail traffic takes priority, but he reassures that the situation is manageable.

Nilsson also points out the port’s advanced equipment and operational flexibility. While they haven’t yet implemented it, they have the capacity to use two locomotives simultaneously at berth number nine, which could be crucial in high-pressure situations. This added capability provides extra reliability and reassurance for customers relying on smooth rail-ferry connections.

14:50 Tomas Arvidsson, Chairman of the Swedish International Freight Association and Member of the European Economic and Social Committee, speaks about the need for stronger investment in rail infrastructure to support freight transport in Sweden and northern Germany. He notes that while the Fehmarn Belt fixed connection was expected to bring significant improvements, the real issue is the lack of rail infrastructure development on both sides of the corridor. Progress on investments has been extremely slow, and capacity constraints remain a major challenge. The situation is further complicated by plans to expand local and regional train services in southern Sweden and Germany, which will add even more pressure on rail capacity.

Arvidsson points out that Sweden needs a modernized logistics solution, combining rail and ferry connections to ensure secure supply chains and economic growth. He warns that without proper investment, Sweden risks losing a vital freight lifeline, limiting access to key ports and international trade routes. He also draws a comparison to other ferry-rail operations in Europe, such as the Sicily-mainland Italy connection and the Poland-South Sweden corridor, highlighting their role in ensuring seamless transport despite infrastructure challenges. For Sweden, maintaining and expanding rail-ferry links is essential to reducing dependency on fixed links and ensuring long-term freight resilience.

14:55 Col. Gert Dobben, EEAS – Head of Division Resource Support, speaks on military mobility and the need for strategic transport capacity across Europe. He explains that from an EU perspective, military mobility has two main aspects: supporting Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions outside the EU and ensuring large-scale military movements within EU territory. The focus is on increasing transport capacity across all member states, covering aircraft, trucks, railway wagons, and ships, as no single mode of transport can handle the scale of movement required.

Col. Dobben says that in the event of a large conflict, NATO forces moving from West to East or South to North would need to cover 1,200 km from Antwerp to Warsaw, requiring 1.2 million lane meters—far beyond what roads alone can handle. Given the limited availability of ships, rail capacity, and heavy transport vehicles, a multi-modal approach is essential. He stresses the importance of ports with seamless rail and road connections, as well as rail ferries capable of moving large military equipment. Roads must also be suited for oversized military vehicles, such as tanks, making infrastructure resilience and accessibility a critical factor in European defence logistics.

This concludes the 'Stena Line Rail Ferry and the Future of Resilient Intermodal Transport' webinar. Thank you for tuning in with RAILTARGET for the live coverage.