{"id":299214,"date":"2025-10-10T17:58:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T07:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=66559"},"modified":"2025-10-10T17:58:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T07:58:03","slug":"fresh-train-tests-blueprint-for-sustainable-cross-border-fresh-corridors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=299214","title":{"rendered":"Fresh Train tests \u201cblueprint for sustainable, cross-border fresh corridors\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fresh on Track, a European public-private partnership, is launching the pilot project \u2018Fresh Train\u2019 to put more fresh produce on the rails. With trains running between Valencia, Rotterdam and Oslo, the goal is to \u201cdemonstrate the viability of a sustainable, scalable, and cost-competitive rail corridor for fresh produce between Southern and Northern Europe.\u201d<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The pilot should start towards the end of 2025 and offer a weekly temperature-controlled rail service between Valencia, Barcelona and Rotterdam. It will offer fixed slots, customs facilitation and door-to-door solutions in cooperation with multiple logistics partners. \u201cThis approach spreads operational risks and enables economies of scale\u201d, Fresh on Track says.<\/p>\n

A launch event on 1 October in Madrid featured contributions from the Dutch infrastructure ministry, the Spanish transport ministry, and participants Coop, Ahold Delhaize and Greenyard company Bakker Barendrecht.<\/p>\n

The fresh produce sector is feeling the heat<\/h2>\n

The idea for the Fresh Train came about due to a sense of urgency in the fresh produce sector. \u201cThere is significant congestion at key road nodes, lead times are under pressure and there is the demand for more sustainable transport\u201d, explains Eric Mekenkamp, Fresh Train programme manager.<\/p>\n

Not only will European transport need to reduce CO2 emissions and meet sustainability targets, but it also encounters structural challenges such as driver shortages in the road sector. The railways could help overcome those challenges.<\/p>\n

The outcome of the pilot train will become clear after \u201ca couple of months to a year\u201d, when specific attention will be given to the question of reliability. Transit times and the quality of the train service are key. Specific monitoring actions will be put in place for this, says Mekenkamp.<\/p>\n

A competitive modal shift<\/h2>\n

Fresh on Track is clear about its goal: a modal shift from road to rail for fresh produce. Rail freight insiders will know how much of a challenge that proves to be. Mekenkamp is reassuring: \u201cThere is plenty of interest from parties in the fresh produce sector and shippers to load a train. In terms of price and the transit time it is also competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Fresh Train also highlights scalability as one of its assets. Even though the pilot project will start with one trip per week, that can be expanded to have more frequent round trips. \u201cThe fresh produce sector wants higher frequencies for reliability purposes and daily servicing\u201d, says Mekenkamp. Scalability also applies geographically, with Berlin and Munich being among the possible future destinations.<\/p>\n

\"Map
Image: \u00a9 Fresh on Track<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cFresh on Track is not only a logistics project \u2013 it\u2019s a test case for a broader system shift. If successful, it can provide a blueprint for sustainable, cross-border fresh corridors that reduce CO2, alleviate congestion, and ensure reliable supply chains across Europe\u201d, concludes Mekenkamp.<\/p>\n