Ekol Logistics opens block train route between Italy and Belgium


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Ekol Logistics has announced the launch of a new block train between Zeebrugge, Belgium and Trieste, Italy. This new connection will support the company’s network expansion in the South-North corridor to link its strategic markets. The development has been enabled by Ekol’s shareholding in EMT port in Trieste, which the company established in 2016.

“We connected the Mediterranean with the Baltic sea by the Trieste-Kiel train in January 2017 but now we are very glad to offer to our customers a new direct connection between the Mediterranean and the North Sea. This new block train will be the first direct train that will connect Turkey, Iran and the Middle East with the Benelux countries, France and the UK in a totally green mode without using a single driver”, said Alaa Jennane, the Director of Engineering Business Development of Ekol.
 

The train will leave EMT Trieste Terminal two times per week. This new solution will allow for transporting different types of equipment like Mega trailers, containers and swap bodies. This service will be operated by Hupac and is expected to carry around 5,000 shipments per year for Ekol.

Renzo Capanni, the Director of Hupac, said: “Hupac is very pleased to welcome Ekol on this new Intermodal Line. Together with all parties involved we managed to develop a cutting-edge service to directly connect Turkey with the UK within very competitive transit-times. Hupac deploys its own modern wagon fleet and manages the day-to-day train operations. This new service shows again that multimodal can be a great alternative to pure road transport.”
 

Janette Bell, the Managing Director of P&O Ferries, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of this new train to Zeebrugge which will further enhance our integrated rail and ferry service linking the entire continent of Europe with Britain. We expanded our operation at Zeebrugge last year so that now we have capacity for 700,000 units per year and can continue to grow.”

Joachim Coens, CEO of the Port of Zeebrugge, said: “Intermodality is of high value to our port. The Port of Zeebrugge encourages and supports intermodal business solutions between water and rail. The launch of this Ekol block train is a reinforcement of our connections to Italy and further destinations and is an expansion of the complete offer of direct and indirect intermodal connections in Zeebrugge.”

Source: Ekol Logistics

 

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