Polish intermodal operator Laude Smart is entering the Lithuanian logistics market. It is cooperating with the local rail freight operator LTG Cargo to make its expansion possible.
“Our containers will become increasingly frequent guests on Lithuanian tracks”, commented
Marcin Witczak, CEO of Laude Smart Intermodal. “This is an excellent example of cross-border cooperation showing that rail is – and should be – the backbone of the logistics system, where combining road and rail transport allows us to fully leverage the strengths of both modes.”
Laude explains that the transport operations to and from Lithuania are made possible by the Šeštokai intermodal terminal, which enables transshipment between the standard and broad gauges in Poland and Lithuania. LTG Cargo also operates in Estonia and Latvia, expanding the reach of Laude’s containers beyond only Lithuania.
“Laude containers and the technological solutions behind them enable optimisation of transport cost per unit of cargo weight, which is particularly important for heavy goods”, added Witczak. “Depending on the type, our containers can carry up to 30 tonnes of cargo in a single unit within an intermodal chain. Compared to standard road transport, this makes a significant difference, especially in times of high diesel prices.”
Expansion plans
The intermodal operator’s containers transport, among others, bulk freight on the Poland-Lithuania route. However, thanks to a wide range of available container solutions, virtually any type of goods can be transported, says Laude.
Laude is planning to expand its network to the Nordic countries via Baltic Sea shipping. “We have experience in handling such transport via the Black Sea to Turkey, so the Baltic Sea would not be a challenge for us”, says Witczak.