CONNECTING THE ROTTERDAM PORT
TO EUROPEAN HOTSPOTS

There are now monthly trains travelling between Rotterdam and the main economic centres in Germany. With Antwerp also connected to the new network, major benefits are on offer with regards to the environment and road traffic circulation. The service is the equivalent of 150,000 truck journeys transporting goods between both seaports on the one hand, and the German hinterland on the other.

DB Cargo is using the new connections to transport approximately 100,000 containers a year to the hinterland. “We are providing our clients in Rotterdam and Antwerp with a system that has worked successfully in our network with other ports such as Hamburg for many years,” says Dutchman Pierre Timmermans, member of the Board Sales at DB Cargo. “The link from the western ports significantly reduces pressure on the environment.”

In addition to containers, DB Cargo is providing the new connections to sectors with varying volumes, including the chemical sector.

CONSOLIDATIon at KIJFHOEK

The transport volumes from the ports come together at the Dutch shunting yard Kijfhoek, where both the Dutch cargo and cargo from the port of Antwerp is consolidated. The goods are then transported from this rail complex to their final destination via fast, direct trains.

While the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp annually process some 27 million containers, only 8 to 11 percent of these goods was transported by train to and from the western ports until now. Timmermans: “It is good to point out that the port of Hamburg is a frontrunner in this respect: 50% of transport to and from the third largest port in Europe is realised via rail.”

car industry

In an interview with RPPC, Timmermans [a4] looks back at the past year too: “Following the COVID-19 outbreak we saw business decline in April and May but, right now, we are performing better than in the same period last year.”

The results in the second quarter months were mainly under pressure due to the standstill of the European car industry, with Germany playing an important role. “This obviously meant that we transported far fewer cars, but we were especially impacted by the significant reduction in the transport of raw materials such as steel,” the Board member explains.

MORE chinese products

Turning to developments in China, which are relevant due to the New Silk Route and the way containers from the Far East are often further transported by rail from the European seaports, Timmermans says that current volumes have almost doubled compared to last year. “Initially, in early 2020, and shortly after the Chinese New Year, production in China came to a halt, but this was soon followed by a rapid increase.”

The fact that DB Cargo always closely monitors and addresses the latest developments is underlined by its activities in setting up a ‘Rescue Shuttle’ for the connection to the UK – not only because of Brexit-related issues, but also in view of the country’s isolation due to the new variant of the coronavirus.

Timmermans compares the challenges related to COVID-19 to the situation during and shortly after the economic crisis in 2008. “This time around, the various governments are investing in struggling sectors. Yes, rail occupation has declined from before the pandemic – mainly in passenger traffic – but the trains are still running.”

In addition, Timmermans is proud of the fact that, despite the impact of the pandemic, the reliability of the rail connections remains excellent, especially with regards to border-crossing transportation. “The railways are COVID-proof.”

utilise rail connection

Does the Board member have any tips for the other RPPC members, we ask Pierre Timmermans in conclusion. “Prepare now for the time after COVID. While we initially thought we were facing a standstill of a few weeks this is a challenge that has turned out to last much longer. I would recommend that all RPPC members keep rail connections in mind. You will miss out if you don’t use them!”