The Port of Antwerp along with Infrabel and Railport announced their joint plans to increase the port’s share of goods transported by rail.
It is known that port of Antwerp is a huge logistics hub and one of the most important engines of the Belgian economy. In fact, freight traffic to and from this port accounts for about 50% of freight rail transport in the country.
Under their collaboration, the three companies will take crucial steps in the upgrading of rail freight transport, while it is estimated that in ten years, the share of goods by rail will be doubled in the port of Antwerp.
Port of Antwerp wants to be the first world port to reconcile people, climate and economy. A modal shift is extremely important for sustainable growth. With the rail vision of Port of Antwerp, Railport and Infrabel, we are taking a major, concrete and widely supported step forward towards doubling the share of rail in traffic to and from the port.
….Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp, said.
What is more, the port noted that 2021 is the European year of the railways. Therefore, specialists from the three companies worked out a common rail vision, which focuses on seven pillars that should contribute to this:
- Optimal management of traffic flows in the port throughout the logistics chain
- Efficient parking policy for efficient use of the available rail capacity
- Operate the Antwerp-Noord shunting station in a neutral manner + bundle volumes
- Targeted investments in different port areas with the greatest growth potential
- Efficient use of the rail infrastructure
- Separate framework for regulations and port-specific rail policy
- Common digital platform for the mutual exchange of information with respect for competition rules
Rail freight transport is a future-oriented solution for our economy, our health and our environment, which reduces the number of trucks on the road. I support this initiative of the Port of Antwerp, Infrabel and Railport fully: only by working together can we find solutions.
….Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Mobility, concluded.