New train service cuts delivery times to Greece

Swiss private rail operator Crossrail is initially running three services a week for P&O Ferrymasters between Muizen (Belgium) and the major ferry port of Brindisi, with a commercial stop in Novara in northwest Italy. There are plans to increase this to four services a week by the end of 2009.

P&O Ferrymasters is currently the only provider offering a direct connection between Benelux and Brindisi. In Novara containers can be dispatch to Pomezia (Rome) and Naples, whilst from Brindisi, containers are shipped overnight to Patras in Greece. UK-bound shipments can easily connect to the shipping line’s existing Muizen to Zeebrugge service.

Bart Verbeke, P&O Ferrymasters’ intermodal director, said: “This service enables us to reduce traditional delivery times to Greece to an average of seven working days – that’s a reduction of around 48 hours. As well as the cost and time savings, we can offer a much greater capacity, frequency and reliability than the domestic rail services, which have been prone to strike action and rising costs recently. Our new service is also an environmentally friendlier option, helping companies to reduce their carbon footprint.”