TX Logistik AG, part of the Italian railway group Polo Mercitalia (FS Italiane Group), has doubled its rail freight services in Sweden for the supermarket chain Coop. This service now runs 20 times per week between Bro (Stockholm) and Malmo.

The new schedule started per 6 April. Previously, the service was operated ten times per week. “This connection is used to supply foodstuffs to the supermarkets in the south of the country”, says TX Logistik, which has been on the rails for Coop in Sweden since 2012.

Coop goes rail

“The retail chain has commissioned TXL to double the number of round trips”, the company explains. The start and destination is the central warehouse in Bro (about 30 kilometres north-west of Stockholm). On the way to Malmo, the trains make a stopover in Alvesta near Växjo.

The higher frequency enables Coop to transfer 520 trucks from road to rail per week. By transporting its goods by rail, the Swedish group says it saves up to 9,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year compared with road transport. Rail transport is also considered to be a safer transport mode during the ongoing coronacrisis, as there is less human interaction involved.

Expansion Mercitalia

“The expansion of TXL‘s existing business in Sweden emphasises the progressive implementation of the Mercitalia Group‘s European expansion strategy, in which TX Logistik plays a leading role”, the operator adds.

“The transport solution developed for Coop demonstrates the level of efficiency and quality that the rail system has now achieved. Even for goods that were previously transported almost exclusively by road, a more extensive use of rail is now possible.”