The TransFER route connecting the port of Rotterdam and Wolfurt in Austria reached a volume record in 2021. With more than 18,500 TEUs transported, Rail Cargo Group’s service saw a 170 per cent growth since its beginning in 2016.

“We are very pleased to have such a large and important partner as Rail Cargo Group. Over the past five years, we have seen a steady increase in container flows to and from Austria via rail,” commented Franz Zauner, regional representative of the port of Rotterdam. In 2016, “the route delivered 6,686 TEUs. The growth since then can be attributed, on the one hand, to the attractiveness of the port itself. On the other hand, we were able to convince our customers of the quality and commercial efficiency of our Wolfurt–Rotterdam TransFER,” said Bernhard Ebner, intermodal business unit manager at RCG.

Crucial link

Wolfurt is located in western Austria, close to the border with Switzerland. Currently, the service offers three round trips per week. Two of these connect Wolfurt with Rotterdam via Kufstein in Austria and vice versa. The third trip connects Rotterdam with Wolfurt via Frenkendorf in Switzerland. “This train connects Western Europe with economic centres in southern and southeastern Europe, such as Koper and Trieste. In addition, a direct connection is also offered to other Austrian terminals,” highlighted Ebner.

Frekendorf and Niederglatt become regular connections

At the beginning of 2022, RCG wants to integrate eastern Switzerland into the Wolfurt-Rotterdam route. As a result, the company will launch three weekly connections between the Frekendorf and Niederglatt terminals and Wolfurt. Trains from Switzerland will then have direct access to Rotterdam and Belgium and the port of Antwerp. In addition, the links could also extend to the south and the Italian ports of Genoa and La Spezia.

“We will add extra connections from Frenkendorf and Niederglatt to Wolfurt, with direct access to Rotterdam. We combine the Swiss import surplus with the export surplus in the Vorarlberg region. In this way, we enable a large volume of traffic to the economy in the region around Lake Constance,” concluded Ebner.

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