How we run rail freight
We move containers by rail on daily shuttles from the North Sea ports to inland terminals, and on the direct rail link between Europe and China. A truck handles the first and last mile.
What is included
Terminal booking, rail slot reservation, first and last mile trucking, customs and tracking from departure to arrival terminal.
Lower emissions, reported
Rail cuts CO2 by up to 80 percent compared with road on the same lane. We include the emissions per shipment in your monthly report so you can share it with your customers.
When rail is the right choice
Rail is best for routes over 500 kilometres, steady volumes and cargo that can travel on a fixed weekly schedule.
How a shipment moves, step by step
1. Quote and booking
Share the origin, destination, container type and weekly volume. We check the rail schedules and terminal slots and confirm the departures that fit your plan.
2. First mile
A truck brings the container from the port or your site to the rail terminal before the train cut off.
3. On the train
We follow the train from departure to arrival terminal and inform you about any change in the schedule or delays at border crossings.
4. Last mile
At the arrival terminal a local truck collects the container and delivers it to your door, usually within a day of the train arriving.
Main routes
Daily shuttles connect Rotterdam and Antwerp with inland terminals in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Northern Italy and Poland. On the long distance link between Europe and China, weekly block trains offer a middle ground between sea and air: about twice as fast as ocean and far cheaper than flying.
What affects the price
The rail rate depends on the route, the container size and the weight. Terminal handling and the first and last mile trucking come on top. Regular weekly volumes help us secure better rates and guaranteed slots.
Documents we need from you
A commercial invoice, a packing list, the container and seal numbers when the container is already loaded, and the customs documents for routes that leave the EU. We prepare the rail consignment note.
Common questions
Is rail slower than road?
On European routes rail usually adds about a day compared with a direct truck. For steady flows that difference is easy to plan around, and the savings in cost and CO2 are significant.
Can rail carry temperature controlled cargo?
Yes. Reefer containers with power supply run on most of our main corridors, including the China rail link, with temperature monitoring throughout the trip.
