Antwerp backs rail in post-Covid era

In his blog called ‘Mind the Gap’, Elmar Ockenfels, port representative Germany/Switzerland at the Port of Antwerp, said that the pandemic has made it all the more clear that security of supply and sustainability are the major challenges the industry now has to face going forward.

“For years, everyone has been talking about shifting traffic from road to rail. But not much has happened so far,” he said.

“But then came the pandemic and with it the supply bottlenecks. Questions quickly arose in industry and logistics about the design of processes: Do we perhaps need to rethink our supply chains? Is the just-in-time principle sustainable in the long term? Wouldn’t it make more sense to “play it safe” in supply chains?”

Security and sustainability

His argument is that rail transport can contribute significantly to solving the challenges in supply chains and it makes sense from Antwerp’s standpoint because the port is so well connected.

Despite the pandemic, the port was able to hold its own comparatively well in 2020: Container volumes even increased and exceeded the 12 million teu mark. Because of this Mr Ockenfels said that the road for onward carriage to the hinterland will reach its load limit and security of supply will be endangered in the medium term.

The combination of a growing port, increased pressure on the road network and ambitious environmental objectives makes the promotion and support of alternatives to road transport imperative. Port of Antwerp launched a master plan to double rail transport at the port of Antwerp by 2030.

In order to achieve this objective, the port set up ‘Railport’. Railport co-ordinates all rail activities at the port and develops projects with various partners. These are intended to strengthen rail transport within the port, as well as links with other European hubs.