Deepsea terminal operator PSA Antwerp and Antwerp-based rail terminal Combinant have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an integrated service to optimize the connectivity between PSA's Deepsea Terminals and Combinant Rail Terminal in the Port of Antwerp.

The streamlined corridor aims to facilitate a modal shift from road to rail, thereby enhancing maritime intermodal rail solutions at the Port of Antwerp.

PSA noted that as businesses increasingly seek fast, cost-effective, and sustainable transport options for their products between the deepsea port and the respective hinterlands, the shift from road to rail has become a valuable alternative.

The newly established trucking service will connect PSA's two deepsea terminals on the right bank of the river Scheldt (Noordzee and Europa Terminal) with the Combinant rail terminal in the north of the Port of Antwerp.

The announcement said through the Combinant-Duisburg rail connection, operated by the intermodal network operator HUPAC, this new integrated service will connect PSA’s Antwerp terminals with PSA's investment in the recently opened Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT)1 in the Ruhr area.

 [Source: PSA Antwerp]

Since early November 2024, HUPAC has rerouted its trains to DGT, making the following destinations directly bookable for maritime cargo through PSA's Intermodal Solutions Department: Schkopau and Schwarzheide in Germany, Warsaw in Poland, Budapest in Hungary, Vienna in Austria, Ploiesti (Bucharest) in Romania, Starà Zagora in Bulgaria, Pančevo (Belgrade) in Serbia and Istanbul in Türkiye.

Additionally, rail operators calling Combinant can now offer connections between PSA's Antwerp terminals and important logistics hotspots on the European continent such as Ludwigshafen, Bettembourg, Milan, Verona, Barcelona and Madrid.

The announcement said to further reduce carbon emissions; both companies will explore the introduction of sustainable electric trucks (eTrucks) to this corridor.

Last year, PSA Antwerp successfully conducted tests with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo eTrucks to assess their performance and feasibility in moving containers throughout the port.

"At PSA, we are committed to continuously enhancing the hinterland connectivity of our terminals, offering more multimodal, efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions to our customers. Our partnership with Combinant aligns with PSA Group's strategic vision of expanding our services and product portfolio into the hinterland, as exemplified by our investment in the newly opened Duisburg Gateway Terminal and the announced acquisition of Polish intermodal operator Loconi Intermodal S.A.2," Edward Tah, managing director of PSA Belgium, said.

Ben Beirnaert, general manager of Combinant N.V., noted that by integrating maritime and continental volumes on trains, the partners offer an "optimal solution for the future."

"At Combinant, we see immense potential in this partnership with PSA Antwerp. We already offer more than 10 direct train destinations across Europe, available to the PoAB community. The only way forward is to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve a modal shift across all volumes," he said.