A European first: hump yard in the port of Antwerp operated neutrally for the first time
| April 1, 2023 – Neutral operation of the rail facility began thanks to the joint plan by Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Railport Antwerp, the freight carrier Lineas and the infrastructure manager Infrabel. It’s the first time in the history of Belgian railroads that something like this has happened. More than that, it’s even a European first! |
| The neutral management of the shunting plant is an important part of the sustainable rail vision 2030. This joint vision of the future aims to double the proportion of freight transported by rail in the port of Antwerp by 2030. This so-called modal shift seeks to make rail more attractive so that more and more companies choose it. After all, those who transport their goods by rail, opt for fewer trucks and less road congestion. That’s a win-win situation for both the economy and the environment. What are the key elements of this success story? 1. Faster and more efficient freight train composition Thanks to the automatic shunting facility at the Antwerp-North marshaling yard in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (PoAB), freight trains can be assembled up to six times faster. The importance of this logistics node, where “puzzling out” freight trains is part of daily business, should, therefore not be underestimated. 2. Level playing field for all This means that it’s available to all rail operators on equal terms. Lineas is committed to providing shunting services to all at market-based, transparent prices and conditions. This activity will be followed up by Infrabel in collaboration with PoAB. Furthermore, the pricing for shunting services is controlled by the rail regulator. 3. Transparent software to track activities In order to further streamline everything, Infrabel and PoAB are working on a high-performance software program. Each step of the shunting process is recorded in the system and can be accessed at any time and gives all customers a clear picture. The infrastructure manager, in collaboration with the neutral operator Lineas, will be ultimately responsible for planning, allocating capacity, and finding solutions in the event of double bookings. |
Original article HERE
Image: portofantwerpbruges.com