NO WALTZ ON THE DANUBE

However, these limitations have spurred new interest in combined transport with a rail connection between the Rhine and Danube terminals (overnight express) and for barge on- or pre-carriage. Rhenania has been running a multimodal transport chain for several years, says md Wilfried Schumacher. Big barges ply the Rhine and feeder trains connect the larger inland ports with centres southeast of the Rhine, in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg and Austria.

Since October 2003 a regular shuttle train has run three times a week between Duisburg Intermodal Terminal and Wiencont Container terminal, Vienna. The agreement setting up the service was concluded by Duisport Agency, the port marketing arm of Duisport Group, Austrian railroad company Wiener Lokalbahnen, and Far Freight, an Austrian forwarding agent. The three weekly round-trips can replace more than 10,000 truck movements a year, says Duisport ceo Erich Staake. In Duisburg, the shuttle train ties up with regular lines to Rotterdam and Antwerp on the North Sea coast and shortsea shipping links to the UK and Ireland. The Vienna terminal is well located for transportation to Sopron in Hungary and other destinations in southeast Europe.

Under the right conditions, a container takes no more than 48 hours from Rotterdam to Vienna, adds Staake.