CargoBeamer doubles its cross-France piggy-back service
NewsAn innovative rail-based landbridge service down the spine of France is to double frequency on the back of demand from road operators.
CargoBeamer to open Kaldenkirchen-Perpignan route
CargoBeamer is expanding its intermodal network from the beginning of next year, with a new route between Kaldenkirchen in Germany, near the Dutch border, and Perpignan near the French-Spanish border
The patented CargoBeamer system enables all kinds of semitrailers, containers, P400 trailers, refrigerated and tank trailers, and other types of goods to be transported by train without requiring any additional conversions for forwarders.
Initially three trains will run weekly in each direction. From mid-February, the frequency will increase permanently to five round trips per week. CargoBeamer will collaborate with DB Cargo France (formerly Euro Cargo Rail) as its traction partner. The new Franco-German route is the company’s sixth connection overall, with five of the six lines having been added to the network in the past six months.
To be clear, the modal transfer is “vertical,” using the CargoBeamer platform as a lifting “basket” for non-cranable trailers. As previously discussed, the same platform is used for transversal, horizontal modal transfer at CargoBeamer’s first dedicated terminal in Calais.
CargoBeamer opened its first route in 2015, linking Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola, and the economically strong region in western Germany and proximity to the Belgian and Dutch markets have ensured consistently high utilization rates.
Cargobeamer’s route between Perpignan and Calais has been running since summer this year. There are numerous opportunities for onward maritime transport from Perpignan – eg the Port of Sète is 100 kms from Perpignan – as well as the extension of transport routes to Spain.
Matthias Schadler, Managing Director of CargoBeamer intermodal operations GmbH, said: “Having already greatly expanded our network this year, we are delighted to be able to offer our customers the next attractive line from January 2022. With the expansion of the service in Perpignan, we not only serve the southern French market, but also position ourselves in the direction of northern Spain with the strong transport region around Barcelona.
“Furthermore, the addition of another route is also an important step forward for the location of Kaldenkirchen, where we plan to start constructing our own transhipment terminal soon” (ie to follow the one already opened in Calais).
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