Tailwind Intermodal, Lidl’s intermodal logistics subsidiary, has introduced a new rail freight service called the Panther Shuttle. This service operates five times a week between Graz in Austria and the Slovenian port of Koper.
The Panther Shuttle aims to enhance freight connections across Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
According to Christian Steindl, Managing Director of Tailwind Intermodal, the Graz cargo terminal’s location between the Adriatic and Baltic regions makes it a strategic hub for transporting goods to and from the Mediterranean.
Currently offering five direct weekly connections in both directions, the Panther Shuttle is poised to increase its frequency, potentially running up to 10 times a week, depending on customer demand.
Tailwind Intermodal also oversees the trucking of containers at the Graz terminal, offering a comprehensive solution for the movement of goods.
In a related move, Tailwind Shipping Lines, another Lidl subsidiary, has expanded its maritime operations with the christening of the “Panda 004,” a 1,400 TEU container ship.
The “Panda 004” will be integrated into Tailwind’s Dolphin Express (DEX) service, connecting Barcelona and Moerdijk on a weekly basis.
Its sister ship, the “Panda 003,” will operate alongside it, creating a homogenous fleet for more efficient transport.
The new vessel will also support Lidl’s primary logistics needs, as well as third-party customers requiring time-sensitive goods delivery across north-western Europe.
The “Panda 004,” built by Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Shipbuilding in China, can handle short-sea and oversized intermodal containers, along with space for 378 refrigerated containers.