Intercontainer launches shuttle trains serving Hamburg, Bremerhaven
Swiss intermodal company Intercontainer-Interfrigo earlier this month replaced its block trains between Switzerland and the German ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven with 44 fixed non-stop shuttle services.
Intercontainer now operates 22 shuttles per week (11 southbound and 11 northbound) from each of its new Swiss hubs in Rekingen and Frenkendorf.
The following services are now in operation:
* Rekingen, Hamburg Eurogate, CTA (Altenwerder) and Bremerhaven.
* Frenkendorf, Hamburg Eurogate, CTA (Altenwerder) and Bremerhaven.
Intercontainer said its shuttle system offers a number of advantages, including operating irrespective of whether wagons are available in the ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven as trains are made up exclusively of its own wagons.
'In recent months, in particular, the general shortage of wagons throughout Europe has been the source of often substantial forwarding delays,' Intercontainer said.
Intercontainer also said that it produces all loading plans directly and transmits them to the terminals. Also, traction is now handled by a single operator, CFF/SBB Cargo, winners of its international tender invitation, requiring no time-consuming locomotive changes at the border.
'This new shuttle concept will enable us to secure our position as leader on the German seaport/Switzerland container transport market on a lasting basis,' said Patrick Meier, Intercontainer's director, marketing and sales.