The Norwegian rail operator Cargonet has launched a new weekly rail shuttle service between Oslo and the Port of Gothenburg providing a rapid, dependable and climate-smart transport link.
The new service will initially operate once a week in each direction between Oslo and the Port of Gothenburg. According to Mikael Grankvist, the Product Manager at Cargonet, last week, the company began the service with “great response from the market” which can result in an increased traffic volume on the route.
“Somewhat boastfully we usually say that we are the largest port in Norway thanks to the substantial flows of Norwegian import and export goods that pass through the Port of Gothenburg. This potential is set to increase even further with a highly skilled rail operator that is bringing a much sought-after solution to market,” Claes Sundmark, Vice President, Business Area Container, RoRo & Rail at the Gothenburg Port Authority said.
The 580-metre train arrives at the Port of Gothenburg from Oslo on Wednesday afternoon carrying Norwegian export goods for loading onto ships and onward transport to various parts of the world via the extensive Port of Gothenburg service network. That evening the train is loaded with import goods bound for the Norwegian market, reaching Oslo next morning.
“With our broad range of services we can ensure effective transport to and from all the major cities in Norway and we are extremely pleased that we can now offer our customers this service all the way down to Gothenburg,” Erik Røhne, Cargonet chief executive said.
The weekly rail shuttle service will reduce 2,000 trucks each year operating on the extremely busy E6 motorway between Gothenburg and Oslo. The modal shift from road to rail will result in a reduction in carbon emissions of 724,000 kg.
Currently, around 60 per cent of container volumes to and from the Port of Gothenburg are transported by rail. The port is investing to expand the double-track Port Line system and the Arken Intermodal Terminal, which have already had a significant impact on reducing the number of trucks on the roads in the Gothenburg area. The new rail-sea transshipment terminal at the port, the Svea Terminal, is currently in the start-up phase.
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