A new Germany-Serbia intermodal rail service is now operational, with Emirati logistics company DP World handling freight between its Novi Sad facility in Serbia and Herne in western Germany. The Austrian transport company LKW acts as the operator on the route.
Herne is a key logistics hub located in the Rhine-Ruhr region, explains DP World. The intermodal service offers three weekly departures with shorter transit times than trucking routes. Moreover, it helps to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%.
Novi Sad is the first terminal in Serbia to offer this kind of regular intermodal connection to Western Europe, says DP World.
An answer to road challenges
This new intermodal rail service is a response to increasing regulatory and operational pressures on long-haul road transport between Serbia and Western Europe, the Emirati company elaborates. Unpredictable transit times and growing exposure to European Union road freight rules, including the Entry/Exit System (EES) and stricter driver mobility requirements, are making intermodal rail a more attractive option.
“As regulatory requirements for road transport continue to evolve across the European Union, customers are seeking solutions that offer greater speed, predictability and lower administrative complexity. Intermodal rail offers all three, while also delivering measurable carbon savings”, said Vladica Ćulafić, Chief Commercial Officer at DP World Novi Sad.