HHLA’s Rail Subsidiary Metrans Plans to Build a Terminal in Hungary

HHLA’s rail subsidiary Metrans, part of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), plans to build a terminal in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. The investment volume amounts to more than 40 million euros. With its location in the heart of Europe, Hungary is of strategic importance for future transport corridors. The new terminal is situated on the axis with the Adriatic ports of Trieste (Italy), Koper (Slovenia), and Rijeka (Croatia).

(Hamburg/Zalaegerszeg) HHLA’s intermodal company Metrans is constructing another rail terminal in Hungary to expand its services on the Adriatic Corridor and towards Southern and Southeastern Europe. A corresponding agreement has been reached between the subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and the Hungarian government. The hub terminal will be built in Zalaegerszeg, which is located on the transport axis with the Adriatic ports of Trieste, Koper, and Rijeka.

Strategic Importance of the Project

Angela Titzrath, CEO of HHLA, emphasizes the strategic significance of the project for the logistics company: “We are investing in Hungary because we see significant potential for future rail traffic there. The Adriatic Corridor is developing into an extremely important European transport axis. That is why we recently acquired a port terminal in Trieste, Italy. Additionally, Hungary’s location in the heart of Europe is crucial for expanding the Metrans network towards Southern and Southeastern Europe. I would like to thank the Hungarian ministries and the relevant authorities in the region for their excellent cooperation.”
Peter Kiss, CEO of the Metrans Group, announces investments of more than 40 million euros to build and equip the new terminal. “This significant financial commitment demonstrates how important Hungary is for the further development of Metrans. We want to grow in Hungary and with the Hungarians. The planned terminal will help make the country an even more efficient logistics hub in Europe.”

Groundbreaking Scheduled for Fall 2021

As soon as the necessary legal foundations are established, the groundbreaking will take place this fall. The first construction phase of the facility is expected to be operational by 2023. The investment sum of more than 40 million euros includes a grant from Hungarian institutions of approximately 11 million euros. Metrans anticipates that around 120 new jobs will be created in Zalaegerszeg.
The volume of containers transported by rail in Hungary has steadily increased in recent years. Metrans has benefited from this, particularly through the hub terminal opened in Budapest in 2017. In the first year, approximately 250,000 standard containers (TEU) were handled at the facility, and by 2019, this number had already risen to 425,000 TEU. In 2020, the handling figures remained stable despite the restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular block trains from Metrans currently connect Hungary via Budapest and the Slovakian Dunajska Streda with the North Sea ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, as well as Duisburg and the Adriatic ports of Trieste and Koper. Metrans’ entire European intermodal network now includes 17 own and additional associated terminals. This network, and especially the Budapest terminal, is also an important part of the New Silk Road.
Photo: © HHLA
www.hhla.de     www.metransrail.de