Contargo Expands Hinterland Network in France

The container hinterland logistics network Contargo will offer two new rail products starting at the end of August 2025: the DDS – Duisburg Dourges Shuttle and the PFS – Poland France Shuttle. They connect Duisburg with Northern France and Central Poland with Northern France, each with numerous connection options within France.

With these new corridor solutions, environmentally friendly alternatives from Western to Eastern Europe and back are being created. “The two new rail lines are a first step in further expanding our rail services within Europe and offering continental train connections for the first time,” says Andreas Mager, Managing Director of Contargo Rail Services.

Duisburg Dourges Shuttle (DDS)

The Duisburg Dourges Shuttle (DDS) will connect the Lille Dourges Container Terminal (LDCT) in Dourges (France) and the DIT – Duisburg Intermodal Terminal with a fixed schedule and three round trips per week starting at the end of August. The new sustainable corridor solution offers connections from/to Dourges to Bordeaux, Fos-sur-Mer, Lyon, Marseille, Miramas, Mouguerre, Paris, Perpignan, and Rennes. At the DIT – Duisburg Intermodal Terminal, there are rail connections to Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and China.

Two Routes Between Poland and France

The Poland France Shuttle (PFS) will start at the end of August and includes two routes between Poland and France: Dourges – Krzewie and Dourges – Kutno. The two Polish cities are located near Łódź in Central Poland. In Dourges, there are rail connection options to Bordeaux, Fos-sur-Mer, Lyon, Marseille, Miramas, Mouguerre, Paris, Perpignan, and Rennes.

This direct connection with one round trip per week links the LDCT in Dourges with the Miratrans Terminal in Krzewie. After a short initial phase, Contargo plans to increase the frequency to two round trips per week.

The route connects the LDCT in Dourges with Central PL in Kutno with a stop at the DIT and consists of two sections: the first connects Dourges with Duisburg at a frequency of three round trips per week. The second section between the DIT and Central PL is realized by Contargo via a partner connection in the PCC Network with currently five round trips per week.

Increasing the Share of Rail in the Modal Split

“Our goal is to increase the share of rail in our modal split in the medium term and to further strengthen combined transport in Europe through the expansion of continental traffic beyond the western and northern ports,” says Thijs van den Heuvel, COO Transport Network at Contargo.

Photo: © Contargo