Hupac Opens Transshipment Terminal in Brwinów near Warsaw

The Swiss combined transport operator Hupac opens a new transshipment terminal in Brwinów near Warsaw. The facility supports sustainable goods exchange in Central and Eastern Europe and enables further growth of combined transport.The HTB Hupac Terminal Brwinów is located in a logistics district about 25 km southwest of Warsaw.

(Brwinów) The Hupac facility has a transshipment capacity in phase 2 of 12 train pairs per day and can shift up to 180,000 containers annually from road to rail. This prevents 10 kilometers of traffic congestion daily and reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 250,000 tons per year.

“The development of the infrastructure follows our proven step-by-step approach,” explains Michail Stahlhut, CEO of the Hupac Group, during the inauguration ceremony on September 7, 2022, in Brwinów. “In the first phase, we will put two transshipment tracks and three service tracks into operation. The loading of the cargo units will be done with reach stackers. In a second phase, we will scale the capacity and install three more transshipment tracks as well as powerful portal cranes.” From the beginning, the terminal is designed for 740 m long trains. “This way, we anticipate the parameters of the European freight transport corridors and achieve maximum productivity for the trains of combined transport.”

Important for the Further Development of the Network

The terminal is an important prerequisite for the further development of the European network. Companies looking to switch to climate-friendly combined transport can count on sufficient capacity and the proven quality of Hupac in the Warsaw economic area. Stahlhut: “We thank our partners and the institutions that have supported us in realizing the project from the very beginning: the Polish Ministry of Transport, the Masovian Marshal’s Office with Marshal Adam Struzik, the city of Brwinów with Mayor Arkadiusz Kosinski, and the Swiss Embassy in Poland.” The investment costs amounted to EUR 37 million.

“We also thank Siemens Mobility, whose locomotive Vectron MS presented at the terminal is an excellent example of a technologically advanced and modern vehicle that supports combined transport in Poland and Europe,” Stahlhut continued.

Michail Stahlhut, CEO of the Hupac Group, during the inauguration ceremony

Investment in High Performance and Environmental Protection

Hupac started the terminal project in 2017 and initially ensured road and rail connections. After a pandemic-related pause, construction work could be resumed in March 2021 and completed by the end of August 2022. The facility covers an area of 140,000 m² and includes a check-in area, a transshipment area of 42,000 m², office facilities, and technical buildings. Additionally, there is another plot of 160,000 m² for future developments.

About 40% of the area will be greened with trees, bushes, and meadows. “This reduces soil sealing and protects nature and the environment,” explains Dario Arcotti, Director of Engineering at Hupac AG. The entire transshipment area of the terminal is equipped with underground basins and a separate wastewater system to prevent potential groundwater contamination.

The owner and operator of the facility is the Polish Hupac Terminal Brwinów Sp. z o.o. The handover to operations will take place in autumn 2022. In the initial phase, the terminal will operate in two shifts. “We look forward to the challenge and want to offer our customers real added value with numerous additional services,” says Diana Batko, Managing Director of the Hupac branch in Poland. In addition to smooth transshipment, customs services, container charging stations, and weighing of cargo units are included. The terminal is accessible to all railways in accordance with applicable EU law.

Hub for European Combined Transport

With the Brwinów terminal, real opportunities are emerging for the further development of combined transport, says Renzo Capanni, who took over responsibility for the Shuttle Net North East business area of Hupac Intermodal at the end of August. “Until now, there have been no capacity reserves for intermodal transport within a 120-kilometer radius of the Polish capital. The new terminal creates prospects for the growth of the entire sector.”

After the terminal goes into operation in autumn 2022, Hupac will gradually shift existing connections to the new facility. Renzo Capanni: “Brwinów in the heart of Poland is the ideal location for the international connection of the Polish market. In the medium term, we see prospects not only in strengthening traffic on the east-west axis but also in developing traffic on the north-south axis, with Brwinów potentially taking on a central hub function.”

Photos: © Hupac