Rail Cargo Group launches train to Spain and increases Benelux links
April is a pretty productive month for Austria based Rail Cargo Group. With a new link in the pipeline between Barcelona in Spain and St. Valentin/Schwertberg, Austria, and increased weekly connections between Linz, Austria and Antwerp, Belgium, the operator stretches its reach in multiple axes.
RCG carried out the first test train service between Barcelona and St. Valentin/Schwertberg in March for what appears to be a new regular service for vehicles. The second test train will depart in the coming weeks. As for the Linz-Antwerp link, its frequency will increase to six weekly roundtrips to meet the increased transport demand for Northern Europe and Scandinavia.
Specialised corridor
The Barcelona -St. Valentin/Schwertberg route will be dedicated to the green transport of vehicles. For this purpose, RCG has partnered up with Hödlmayr International, a vehicle logistics specialist and SNCF. “Rail Cargo Group is in charge of operating the whole route for Hödlmayr International. For the section between Saarbrücken in Germany and Barcelona (and vice versa), the French railway company SNCF will take over as the carrier, together with its subsidiary Captrain España”, explained the company.
The second train in this direction will commence at the end of April/beginning of May. RCG says that the plan is to run one weekly roundtrip that could increase to three or four in the future.
Almost daily to Belgium and Scandinavia
“The growing demand in the steel, chemical, mineral oil, paper and building materials sectors led RCG to increase the frequency of the Linz-Antwerp connection to six round trips per week, now transporting wagonloads of freight (including dangerous goods) between Austria and Belgium on an almost daily basis”, explains RCG.
The increased frequency will also apply to the further connection offered by this route between Duisburg (Rheinkamp) and Malmö in Sweden. The range of cargo is the same as Antwerp’s route focusing on the transport of steel, paper, dangerous good and consumer goods. “Goods can also be added to the train at Rheinkamp (on the way to Scandinavia) or diverted off towards other destinations (for example, within Germany or to France, Belgium or the Netherlands) on the way back”, says RCG.
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