Hupac Maritime Logistics has launched a new shuttle linking the Port of Rotterdam and the major German industrial areas of Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg.

The container train departs the DUSS terminal in Kornwestheim on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the return journey from Rotterdam’s CTT terminal on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Plans are already being made to expand this to a daily service.

Fast & reliable

Peter Weber, Director of Corporate Development at the Hupac Group, said: “The Port of Rotterdam is an important hub and gateway for Hupac, and we are proud of this new connection. This train provides us the opportunity to target deep-sea clients as well. We are convinced that we can offer a fast and reliable service for our customers. Maritime hinterland logistics is a market with huge potential. Our new business unit Maritime Logistics is launching this new service on a route with high demand. The first weeks are already showing a positive answer from the market.”

Matthijs van Doorn, Logistics Manager of Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “Hupac is a strategic partner of the port. We are really happy with this connection to the Kornwestheim region. It strengthens our rail network and gives the customers in the region a good rail connection with our port.”

Starting point

Sven Lehmann, Managing Director of Hupac Maritime Logistics, said: “Our train transports everything from fashion to car accessories. The main target is maritime hinterland traffic, but we focus on continental traffic as well. We are running three round trips per week – that’s a good starting point for the market. As soon as volumes increase, we aim to upgrade the service to daily departures.”

The Hupac Group is also launching a direct connection this month between Hannover and the north-west Italian city of Novara. The new intermodal service offers three departures per week, and is a reworking of the established Hamburg/Hannover to Busto shuttle, which continues to run as a Hamburg-Busto service.