Polish rail freight operator PKP Cargo considers the launch of new connections to Duisburg, the largest intermodal hub on the Rhine River. The company wants to expand the freight service within corridors as Małaszewicze – Duisburg, Poznań – Duisburg, Geniusze – Duisburg and Gliwice/Wrocław – Riesa/Duisburg.

In order to achieve the goal, PKP Cargo has concluded a deal with Duisburg Hafen (Duisport), an operator of the river port in Duisburg. The parties intend to cooperate in preparing and offering joint intermodal products. “It is important for us to enable more opportunities for transporting intermodal freight to Duisburg, where the world’s largest inland river port functions on the Rhine. Our trains have been running there for many years, we maintain a permanent connection to Duisburg, but it is a chance for a significant increase of freight volumes”, said Czeslaw Warsewicz, CEO of PKP Cargo.

Duisburg freight traffic

Port of Duisburg handles more freight than all Polish ports together. In 2018 its annual freight traffic reached a level of 127.5 million tonnes. The total volumes are slightly declining. However, the container traffic is growing: this type of freight accounts for 55 per cent of the handling volume. Last year port of Duisburg handled 4 million TEUs. The main factor of container growth is traffic to/from China. Around 30 per cent of freight trains between China and Europe run via Duisburg. Every week the intermodal terminal handles 35 trains to/from China.

“Poland is a place where transportation of container freight from seaports grows rapidly, we are also the gateway for China to the European Union on the New Silk Road. This makes that Duisport is interested in cooperation with Poland to handle as many containers as possible, addressing customers in Western Europe”, summed up Warsewicz.

Also read:

• Hupac expands intermodal service Duisport – Poland
• RCG launches Transfer Duisburg-Venice