New intermodal service between Baltic Sea and Rhein-Neckar region

European Cargo Logistics GmbH (ECL) has established a new intermodal rail service: As of stated week 35 the „Rhein-Neckar Shuttle“ will transport trailers, swap-bodies and containers between Lübeck-Travemünde and Ludwigshafen. Important partner on this relation is DSV Road Oy, Finland, the Finnish affiliate of world-wide acting DSV. After implementation of the „Ruhr Shuttle“ which started in May this year, this is ECL’s second connection within Germany. Managing Director Jörg Ullrich states: „This new intermodal service offers an additional possibility for our customers to transport goods by rail instead of road, which is not only environmentally friendly, but also reliable.“

The train has commenced service with two departures per week and direction, the schedule will be extended gradually to six departures. Terminals are Baltic Rail Gate in Lübeck-Travemünde, Skandinavienkai, and Kombi-Terminal Ludwigshafen (KTL). Transfer time between Ludwigshafen and Lübeck is about 12 hours. Transit times from and to Southern Sweden are 30 hours, and 60 hours from and to Southern Finland. Cargo which arrives e.g. in the Port of Helsinki by Friday afternoon can be picked up in Ludwigshafen early Monday morning.

 Tobias Behncke, Head of Intermodal Services at ECL comments: „Ludwigshafen is not only attractive due to the high density of industrial plants, e. g. automotive and chemical companies, and excellent road links to neighbouring countries, it also offers various gateway connections e. g. to France, Spain, Italy, Austria and Hungary. We are already in discussions to offer integrated solutions to our customers.“

ECL is committed to the development of intermodal transport. Intermodal products are a daily service between Lübeck and Duisburg which is operated autonomously, and a service to Verona running five times per week and direction which is offered in cooperation with DHL. Moreover, ECL acts as an agent for CFL Multimodal’s line between Lübeck and Bettembourg (Luxembourg). Other business areas of ECL include the European distribution of paper products as well as European freight forwarding of complete/part loads and project cargo.

Contact: tobias.behncke@ecl-online.de, Tel. +49 (0) 451 45 02 - 108