Eurogate Bremerhaven breaks the 1m rail barrier

Eurogate’s Container Terminal Bremerhaven has handled its millionth standard rail container, with the company claiming that the importance of railways as a carrier for seaport hinterland transport is constantly growing.

Rail handling volumes in Bremerhaven have seen a steady rise over the past few years. Since 2010, the number of standard containers handled by rail has risen by 18.5 %, a real term increase of over 160,000 teu. This trend is also reflected in the growing number of train arrivals and departures.

So far this year, an average of 312 container trains per week have arrived at or departed from Bremerhaven, an increase of around 2.4 % compared to the same period last year. Container ships with ever increasing transport capacities bring higher load volumes per ship call that need to be delivered or forwarded on via efficient hinterland transport connections. Bremerhaven is well linked to the European rail network, reflected by the upward trend positive trend in rail volumes.

Wolfgang Schiemann, Managing Director of EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven: “Efficient rail handling operations and good rail links help us to strengthen the competitiveness of our Bremerhaven location. The market position of a port location nowadays is not only determined by its nautical accessibility, but to an increasing degree also by shore-based access possibilities. Our customers appreciate and need these good hinterland connections from our seaport. Which is why it’s important to preserve and develop them.”

All three Bremerhaven container terminals are directly linked to the European rail network, with tracks leading directly to the container storage spaces. At Eurogate Container Terminal Bremerhaven and MSC Gate Bremerhaven there are 19 tracks with a track length of 14.1 km. The Rail Terminal Bremerhaven additionally serves the location with an efficient, modern intermodal terminal directly adjacent to the North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven.