DP World has commenced handling cargo on a new intermodal rail service connecting its Novi Sad terminal on the Danube in Serbia to Herne in Germany. This strategic link to the Rhine-Ruhr region marks the first regular intermodal rail connection from Serbia to Western Europe. Operated by Austrian transport company LKW Walter, the service provides three weekly departures. The partners say they aim to offer a faster and more predictable route while significantly reducing carbon emissions by up to 80%, compared to diesel road transport.
The 45-hour journey provides a more efficient alternative to traditional long-haul trucking routes currently facing increased operational and regulatory challenges. By shifting the long-haul segment to rail, the service lowers reliance on complex cross-border trucking operations and transit licensing. This intermodal model combines rail for the primary haul with road for first-and-final-mile delivery. Consequently, it optimises both logistics efficiency and environmental sustainability within Southeast European supply chains.
Strengthening European supply chain integration
Gokhan Yurteken, General Manager of DP World Novi Sad, highlighted the strategic importance of the new connection for regional trade. “By connecting Novi Sad to the Rhine-Ruhr region with a scheduled intermodal service, we’re strengthening Serbia’s integration into European supply chains and reinforcing its role as a strategic trade gateway in Southeast Europe,” he said. This scheduled service allows customers to better manage their inventory flows between the Balkans and key Western industrial hubs.
The integration into broader European networks is expected to improve schedule reliability while providing a more stable logistics framework. Yurteken added that the “service will give our customers a faster and more predictable route from Serbia into western Europe, reducing reliance on cross-border trucking operations, while improving schedule reliability and cutting emissions”. Such developments are essential for local manufacturers seeking to maintain competitiveness in Western markets through lower administrative and logistical overheads.
Regulatory and operational road pressures
The introduction of the rail service comes as long-haul road transport between Serbia and the European Union faces mounting pressures. Operators are currently contending with unpredictable transit times and stricter enforcement of European Union road freight regulations. These include the Entry/Exit System (EES) and evolving driver mobility requirements. These rules place limits on the number of days drivers are permitted to stay within EU territory, complicating traditional road-only logistics models.
Vladica Ćulafić, Chief Commercial Officer at DP World Novi Sad, explained that customers are actively seeking alternatives to these complexities. “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,” Ćulafić noted. Moving to an intermodal system addresses these concerns while simultaneously providing a method for companies to deliver measurable and reportable carbon savings.
Optimising efficiency through the intermodal model
Intermodal transport effectively combines the strengths of rail and road to maximise logistics efficiency and overall supply chain sustainability. Under this model, containers move primarily by rail for the long-haul segment while utilising trucks for first-and final-mile segments. This approach significantly reduces fuel consumption and driver dependency when compared to traditional road-only transport. It also provides a robust response to the driver shortages currently impacting the wider European haulage industry.
The service connects DP World’s inland terminal network directly to the Rhine-Ruhr region, a critical industrial hub in western Germany. By leveraging this existing infrastructure, DP World says it is continuing to expand its European network. The company already operates over 250 such locations. The Novi Sad to Herne route represents a significant step in enabling more resilient trade flows across the Continent.
