A partnership between Lineas and the shipping and logistics company DFDS will see some 8,000 trailers and containers move from the roads onto the rail due to a new link between the North Sea Port in Ghent to Lyon. In a broader picture, this link creates an intermodal connection between Sweden, Belgium and France. 

The train carries containers and craneable and non-craneable trailers. The containers are used to carry products including food and chemicals. The trailers contain general and industrial cargo and cargo for the automotive industry.

Taking advantage of the frequency

Commenting on the current service, Jelle Van Koevorden, managing director DFDS Belgium, said, “DFDS sails between its multimodal terminals in the port of Gothenburg and Mercatordok in Ghent six times a week. This short sea service now links in with intermodal rail.”

Initially, the train service operated by Europe’s largest private rail freight player Lineas will runs three times a week between Ghent and Port Edouard Hérriot in Lyon. As of mid-April, the frequency will be increased to five trips weekly.

More trains from North Sea Port

The new link means the number of trains at the North Sea Port multimodal terminal will be bumped up by 450 trains per year.

Bernard Gustin, CEO of Lineas, said, “Shifting this freight from road to rail between Ghent and the important industrial region of Lyon will require 450 trains per year and 8,000 trailers/containers. Such a choice means 9 times less CO2 emissions.”

Low-emission rail freight is one of the ways in which North Sea Port continues to build a sustainable multimodal port. “With the combined transport between Gothenburg, Ghent and Lyon, North Sea Port is further strengthening its position as a multimodal port in Western Europe”, says Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port. “Particularly since the cargo arrives in Ghent by road, sea-going vessel and barge from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Moerdijk.”