Port of Vienna and Helrom Receive EL-MO Award 2022

The award recognizes innovative companies and projects that are pioneering the transition to a CO₂-neutral economic cycle. The trailer rail loading location at the Port of Vienna was also honored as one of six award winners, a joint project of Port of Vienna GmbH and Helrom.

(Wien; Frankfurt/Main) The award was presented by the Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Karlheinz Kopf, and the Austrian Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler. The award ceremony took place during the EL-MOTION 2022 conference on April 4 at the Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel in Vienna. The expert jury selected six companies and projects from the submissions that make a particularly innovative and sustainable contribution to CO₂ reduction and a climate-neutral transport transition.

The loading hub at the Port of Vienna for the trailer rail connection Vienna – Düsseldorf impressed the jury with its unique loading technology, which allows conventional, non-craneable truck trailers to be transported quickly and without any terminal on the rail. Austrian Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler commented at the beginning of the award ceremony on the importance of an award like the EL-MO Award for the public perception of the transport transition: “It is important to bring projects to the forefront that show success, that demonstrate how it can be done, and how we can organize transport to function in an environmentally friendly and emission-free manner.”

The award was accepted by Doris Pulker-Rohrhofer, the technical managing director of Port of Vienna GmbH, who has been extraordinarily committed to the realization of the trailer rail connection between Vienna and Düsseldorf from the very beginning. “I have believed in this innovative project for climate-neutral rail freight transport from the start. I wanted Helrom to be with us at our location,” said Ms. Pulker-Rohrhofer at the award ceremony. “This award validates our efforts and confirms our path towards climate-neutral freight transport.”

Significant CO₂ Savings through Intermodal Freight Transport

Since the start of operations in 2020, initially in a trial phase and from 2021 in regular operation, around 500 HELROM trailer rail trains have already operated on the Vienna – Düsseldorf connection. This has resulted in 14,000 truck trailers being shifted from road to rail, corresponding to a saving of 8,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. In cooperation with the Port of Vienna, Helrom GmbH will significantly expand the capacities on this connection in the coming years. In the future, 42 trailers will be transported per train, saving over 25,000 truck trips between Vienna and Düsseldorf annually – a CO₂ reduction of 15,000 tons per year. “Bringing ecology and economic efficiency together is one of our most important tasks,” emphasizes Doris Pulker-Rohrhofer. “And if we want to meet the challenge of climate goals, shifting from road to rail is a must. Together with Helrom GmbH, we are making a tangible contribution to climate protection and the transport transition by strengthening barrier-free intermodal freight transport.”

Confirmation of Corporate Goals

Roman Noack, CEO of Helrom GmbH, also sees this award as an important confirmation of the company’s goal of net-zero transport: “I am very pleased with this award. Many people in Vienna and Düsseldorf have worked with great commitment to realize this innovative freight transport solution. Politics and business have recognized the potential and contributed to its success. The great success of the Vienna – Düsseldorf connection exceeds all our expectations and reaffirms our intention to deploy the HELROM trailer rail with larger capacities and also on other European connections.”

Photo: © Helrom