One year ago Antwerp Port Authority announced its plans to improve mobility in and around the port. Now, the Port mapped out the projects, introducing night logistics and barge services for commuters like the Water Bus and Bike Bus.
To ensure further sustainable growth of the port in future, it must remain accessible both to people and to goods, noted Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. However, the current mobility situation is a problem.
The initiatives that will try to change this are the following:
Night logistics
The Port Authority calls the port community to make greater use of night logistics, since all the necessary infrastructure is already there. But this can only be successful if all the parties involved commit themselves to changing their policies.
Upgraded parking facilities
A large, modern truck park is being built on the Left bank. This will offer space for 370 trucks, with all modern facilities including toilets and showers, wifi, camera surveillance and vending machines. It will also be energy-neutral, thanks to solar panels. The current truck park with 200 spaces on the Right bank will be expanded and modernised on the model of the Left bank.
Streamlining container barge transport
Port of Antwerp signed a Container Barge Action Plan earlier this year with three main components, namely scheduling & collaboration, consolidation and digitisation. These measuresshould make container barge transport more efficient.
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One pilot project for consolidation of small container volumes is due to start on 5 November 2018. Until then, only barges with a minimum of 30 moves per call will be allowed to call directly at the shipping terminals in the port.
Another trial project in the Container Barge Action Plan is “Central Barge Scheduling” which comes into operation on 1 October.
Doubling the share of rail transport
The Port aims to put its full support behind rail transport, with the aim of doubling the amount of use made of rail in the next five years. Responsibility for making this happen has been assumed by Railport, a joint initiative by Antwerp Port Authority, the Left Bank Development Corporation and the industry associations essenscia Flanders and Voka Alfaport.
Water Bus
The Port seeks to promote this form of water mobility in combination with bicycle traffic, in collaboration with the other stakeholders. The Water Bus service will therefore be extended from 8 October onwards. Next year there will be a third expansion, on the Albert canal.
Bike Bus
The Bike Bus has carried more than 50,000 commuter passengers since the service started on 3 April. In addition, further improvements have been made to the service. A web app was recently launched that allows users to track the buses in real time.
An interlinked system of bus transport and a collective electric bike system in the port area is also planned for next year.
Safe cycling
The Port of Antwerp will invest in safe cycling infrastructure. This will improve cycling mobility, safety and convenience over a wide area where there is no public transport.
