Samskip and Nunner Logistics have launched a new direct rail service between Amsterdam and Duisburg as part of a new and far-reaching commitment to shippers using rail, road and waterborne transport services.
From August 20, 2020, the new service will connect Samskip’s rail terminal in Duisburg with TMA Terminal Amsterdam with an initial schedule of two weekly departures in each direction.
As of September, the service’s frequency will increase to three roundtrips per week.
Duisburg, to which Nunners Logistics operates weekly trains from the Chinese cities of Xi’an and Changsa, and Amsterdam link seamlessly into Samskip’s European rail, road and short sea network.
Erik Groot Wassink, director of special products at Nunner Logistics, said: “Nunner Logistics transports a lot of containers from China destined for the UK on the new silk road, which most trains arriving in Duisburg without a suitable link onwards to the Dutch ports connecting to the UK.
“This new service bridges the gap, ensuring a sound intermodal connection for cargoes destined for the UK. It is also a wonderful intermodal additional for our services between the Netherlands, the UK and CIS countries.”
The six-hour rail transit between the two locations provides a reliable and flexible transport option, optimised for prompt delivery of 40/45ft containers, reefer units, flat racks and tank containers.
David Besseling, Samskip’s head of UK trade, said: “We are excited to launch this missing link in pour network and offer an even stronger intermodal product.
“The combination of the Samskip rail and short sea service networks creates a variety of efficient long-distance intermodal services for a sustainable door-to-door solution. Together with our partners, we look forward to increasing frequency and geographical reach even further.”
The new rail shuttle represents a collaboration between Samskip, TMA Terminal Amsterdam, the Port of Amsterdam and Duisport Group, with Distrirail to provide rail haulage services.
Sander de Roo, managing director at Distrirail, added: “This greatly enriches our current rail shuttle services on this corridor.”
It has added to Samskip’s weekly short sea service connecting to the Norwegian Westcoast and also benefits shippers using its three-times weekly departures to Hull and Tilbury.
Furthermore, high frequency rail shuttles will also extend the penetration of short sea services into Amsterdam beyond Duisburg, to Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Italy and Turkey.
Duisport Group’s chief executive Erich Staake has described the connection as a “central project” in enriching intermodal networks and supply chain resilience, while TMA Logistics’ chief execurive Gerben Matroos sees the service as the means to “further shape Amsterdam’s position as a short sea hub”.
