The Belgian rail operator Lineas opened a new intermodal rail freight line, connecting the Austrian cities of Graz and Wels to Antwerp in Belgium. The line is part of the Green Xpress Network of the freight operator and forms the eleventh connection.

The Green Xpress service is characterised by its bundling of various types of freight ranging from steel, chemicals, and consumer goods, via pallets to containers. In this way, large volumes are transported over medium/long distances, capitalising the full potential of rail, according to Lineas.

Graz and Wels Xpress

The Graz and Wels Xpress runs twice a week between Antwerp and Graz with a stopover in the city of Wels. It leaves Antwerp on Tuesday and Friday morning, embarking on a 32 hour journey. This frequency is planned to be increased in the coming months. The train departs with full capacity, carrying 1,780 tonnes of conventional and intermodal loads. In Wels, it sheds at least 580 tonnes, so that it can cross the Alps to travel on to Graz. Austrian partner LTE handles the last mile in Graz as in Wels.

Lineas CEO Geert Pauwels: “The Graz and Wels Xpress fits perfectly in our portfolio of premium rail products, which aim to offer customers direct, frequent and reliable end-to-end rail solutions. Just as for the Vienna Xpress, we are confident that this new product will be successful in convincing customers to make the modal shift from road to rail, positively affecting mobility and the environment.”

Green Xpress destinations

The Graz region is a commercially dynamic city, especially known for its automotive and paper manufacturing industries. The region of Wels also enjoys a dynamic industrial sector, with a strong chemical industry. Vienna was already on the map of the Xpress services of Lineas.

On the other side of the line, all Benelux destinations can be reached within a day, including the Port of Rotterdam via the Rotterdam Shuttle. Other connections are to several cities in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech, Bulgaria, Romania and Sweden. The Port of Antwerp constitutes a prime gateway for export to the United States, points the freight operator out.