German-headquartered terminal and intermodal operator Contargo has acquired a 10% share in the Lille Dourges Conteneur Terminal SAS (LDCT). LDCT has operated the terminal in Dourges, northern France, since 2003.

With its participation in France’s biggest hinterland terminal, Contargo aims to secure capacities for barge handling and create an opportunity for rail handling in northern France. The terminal is also a hub between the western European seaports and southern Europe.

The container terminal in Dourges, near Lille, is located 40 kilometres from Contargo’s existing terminal in Bruay-sur-l’Escaut. It is a part of the Delta 3 300-ha logistics site.

In the rail area, the 60-hectare terminal has seven rail tracks, each about 750 metres long, served by four portal cranes. The depot has approximately 2,500 TEU capacity. At the 500-metre-long quay, 250 metres are served by a barge-to-shore crane.

With regard to cargo volume at LDCT, Contargo said “approximately 125,000 containers are transhipped yearly from one transport mode to another, representing an annual handling volume of 450,000 TEU. Around 90% of the containers are transferred from rail to road and vice versa.”

This article was originally published on our sister publication WorldCargoNews.com.