As part of the EU project Fresh Food Corridors (FFC), the first container trial train loaded with reefer cargo, composed of mostly fruit and vegetables, departed from the port of Koper, headed for Rotterdam on the night of Saturday, 5th of March. The final point of delivery will be north European markets.
The cargo, which belongs to some major Israeli exporters, reached the Port of Koper on Friday via the ‘motorways of the sea’ and continued its route by rail.
The shipment represents a kind of a record and an innovation, because it’s the first block train – loaded solely with reefer containers - that has crossed Europe from the south headed for northern destinations. The port of Koper expressed its satisfaction at being the first to have been chosen for the trial trip. Cargo that usually travels by ship from Israel to north European ports will arrive at the same destination 6 days earlier.
The shipment represents a kind of a record and an innovation, because it’s the first block train – loaded solely with reefer containers - that has crossed Europe from the south headed for northern destinations. The port of Koper expressed its satisfaction at being the first to have been chosen for the trial trip. Cargo that usually travels by ship from Israel to north European ports will arrive at the same destination 6 days earlier.
The challenges of the project are related to the sustainability of the product in terms of cargo volumes and transport costs as well as technical solutions that guarantee adequate temperature conditions for the goods to their final destination.
Most of the efforts in the coming months will be focused on the optimization of the railway service aiming to shorten the transit times and fulfil the railway capacities with back cargo. Within the FFC project similar trial trains will also depart via the ports of Venice and Marseille-Fos.
Sources: en.portnews.ru/port.venice.it