Rotterdam’s first rail connection with Herne, Germany – 6 round trips per week

In late September, the port of Rotterdam’s rail network gained another new node. In its role of rail operator, APM’s container terminal in Rotterdam launched a direct rail connection with Container Terminal Herne GmbH – a stone’s throw from the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen.

The service is executed by Rotterdam Rail Feeding (RRF), which despatches a train from the APM-II terminal at Maasvlakte to the Ruhr Area and vice versa three times a week. APM intends to step up this frequency in the near future, to six departures per week in November. “This means we can offer our clients a swift and reliable connection with this area – the first of its kind in Rotterdam,” explains APM’s Head of Commerce Management Roy de Haan.

Rail connections are on the up and up at APM as it is: in November, the terminal will be doubling the frequency of its shuttle to Duisburg from three to six round trips per week. “The demand for a swift, stable rail product means that we can schedule these runs.”

In addition, the direct rail service between APM’s terminal at Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam and the Cabooter Terminal in Venlo will be increased to eight runs per week as of 1 November. This frequency is expected to rise even further by the end of the year – to 12 or possibly 14 runs per week. 

“This is also reflected in our figures: last year, APM despatched some 700 containers per week by rail; this year, the average stands at some 2,000 containers per week by rail,” says Roy de Haan.

The services to Herne and Venlo are what are known as ‘open trains’ – meaning you can contact APM directly to make a booking.

For more information visit www.portofrotterdam.com

4th November 2019