New rail link between Belgium and France: Lineas, DFDS and North Sea Port shift 8,000 containers and trailers from road to rail

Connection by short sea service to Gothenburg

Jelle Van Koevorden, Managing Director DFDS Belgium: "DFDS sails between its multimodal terminals in the port of Gothenburg and Mercatordok in Ghent six times a week. This short sea service now links in with intermodal rail." Initially, the train service operated by Europe's largest private rail freight player Lineas will runs three times a week between Ghent and Port Edouard Hérriot in Lyon. As of mid-April, the frequency will be increased to five trips weekly.

The train carries containers and craneable and non-craneable trailers. The containers are used to carry products including food and chemicals. The trailers contain general and industrial cargo and cargo for the automotive industry.

North Sea Port multimodal port: 450 additional trains per year

Bernard Gustin, CEO of Lineas: “Shifting this freight from road to rail between Ghent and the important industrial region of Lyon will require 450 trains per year and 8,000 trailers/containers. Such a choice means 9 times less CO2 emissions.”

Low-emission rail freight is one of the ways in which North Sea Port continues to build a sustainable multimodal port. "With the combined transport between Gothenburg, Ghent and Lyon, North Sea Port is further strengthening its position as a multimodal port in Western Europe", says Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port. "Particularly since the cargo arrives in Ghent by road, sea-going vessel and barge from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Moerdijk."

Credits: Lineas