The first freight trains will start running on a new rail route between Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Crailsheim (Germany) from September. The route improves ECS’s logistics network, offering convenient connections to the UK and Ireland via existing rail and shipping lines. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Lineas, the largest private rail operator in Europe.
The new route will carry 42 containers three times a week, which will save more than 11,000 truck journeys on the road every year. This will not only reduce congestion, but also reduce CO2 emissions by 2,600 tonnes per year.
The route also features an innovative loading and unloading system: one train of wagons is loaded while another is ready for dispatch. This reduces handling times and allows the 751-kilometre route to be completed in less than 24 hours, ensuring high timetable accuracy.