Birsterminal Launches New Rail Connection with Antwerp

In April 2022, Birsterminal AG, in cooperation with Terminal Container Athus S.A., will launch the only direct rail connection between the Swiss Rhine ports and the seaports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge under the brand name Tango Rail Line. This will enhance Birsterminal’s intermodal activities as a complement to waterway transport.

(Birsfelden) To counteract uncontrollable waiting times and interruptions in supply chains, Birsterminal is now offering the only train connection to and from the Swiss Rhine ports: Thanks to the cooperation with the Belgian Terminal Container Athus S.A., the route goes from the Rhine port in Birsfelden via Athus with twelve established connecting services, and without a hub at the seaport, directly to the terminals in Antwerp and Zeebrugge, and back from there. The location in Athus also serves as a logistics hub for the inland regions of Saar/Lorraine/Luxembourg, and the port of Birsfelden will become a hub for and through Switzerland.

Increasing Intermodal Agility

“With this cooperation, we are increasing our agility. Especially in these turbulent times, it is important to remain flexible in order to respond quickly to unforeseen events. With the new rail connection, we offer our customers the opportunity to choose the transport solution that best fits the situation at any time. Furthermore, Birsterminal remains true to its environmental policy and relies on the two most CO₂-neutral transport modes: inland shipping and rail,” says Martin Ticks, CEO of Birsterminal AG.

Photo: © Birsterminal