Additional rail service from port of Antwerp to Rhine-Ruhr-Main region

The rail operator H&S Container Line is introducing an additional round trip between Andernach in Germany and the two container terminals in the Deurganck dock in the port of Antwerp. H&S already operates on this route, but is raising the frequency to twice per week thanks to financial support from Antwerp Port Authority.

The support offered to H&S Container Line is the result of a Call for Proposals (CfP) launched in October last year by the Port Authority to attract projects for improving the rail connectivity between Antwerp on the one hand and the Rhine-Ruhr and Rhine-Main regions on the other.

In addition to H&S Container Line several other operators also submitted projects, but not all of them met the conditions for financial support. However, this does not mean that these projects are not being put into practice: B Logistics introduced a new rail service to Ludwigshaven at the beginning of this year, while DB Cargo for its part has begun operating to Wanne Eickel and Mannheim.

The Rhine-Ruhr and Rhine-Main regions are among the most heavily industrialised in Germany, and thus also the largest generators of cargo.

Antwerp is the nearest port to both of them, and so it is the natural gateway to their hinterland. In 2015 a total of 64 million tonnes of freight was carried between Antwerp and Germany. The Port Authority therefore issued a CfP to encourage intermodal operators to introduce a new rail shuttle or to upgrade an existing rail service. The projects selected by the Port Authority could count on limited financial support during a certain period of time. 

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