Port of Antwerp and Infrabel announce their shared rail vision
The Port of Antwerp, Infrabel and Railport have announced their joint plans to grow the port’s share of goods transported by rail.
The following decade, until 2030, constitutes the timeframe in which the three companies will implement their strategies to almost double the percentage of rail freight from 7 percent to 15 percent. For this reason, during a press conference at the port on March 31, they presented a strategy consisting of seven main pillars that will result in the coveted modal shift.
“Let’s modal shift together”. That was the slogan of the trilateral collaboration aiming to transport more goods by rail. It is a fact that in Belgium almost three-quarters of transport takes place by road haulage.
Estimations show that by 2030 Belgium’s transport will grow by a quarter; however, this development could have a detrimental impact on the environment and the Northern European country’s society without a strong rail freight.
Consequently, the vision to double port of Antwerp’s rail freight share in transport could also be considered a test for an approach that could apply extensively for Belgian freight traffic in general.
Following a period of intense negotiations over the Port of Antwerp’s rail infrastructure management, in 2019, the Port, Infrabel and Railport signed a collaboration agreement to give rail freight its deserved position finally.
For more information visit infrabel.be/nl
6th April 2021
