Starting early November there, will be three weekly direct block trains between Barcelona and Toulouse, as well as one weekly connection between Barcelona and Lyon.
Via Toulouse, the solution also connects cargo to Bordeaux seamlessly by using a partner network. Furthermore, it is intended to extend the connectivity on the Spanish side by rail to the areas of Tarragona and Zaragoza.
Maersk claims this new offering can shorten transit times for import and export cargo in areas like Toulouse, Bordeaux and Lyon by up to 12 days (7 days on average) compared to traditional routings via French or North European ports.
Maersk adds that thanks to shorter transport distances and the utilisation of electrified trains, it can also be a more environmentally friendly route. The block trains can also be booked for intra-continental cargo between Spain and France as well.
Commenting on the announcement, Emilio de la Cruz, Managing Director of Maersk’s Area South West Europe, said:
“We are always striving to improve and simplify logistics solutions for our customers and offer better alternatives. By offering them our reliable landside distribution network via rail from the Port of Barcelona we will also increase reliability and resilience in our customers’ supply chains.”
Maersk is operating this new end to end service via its own company APM Spain Railways, and cooperates for the trains with the partners Captrain and Naviland. The Danish logistics giant also stresses that the block trains neither have to stop to change the locomotive or replace wheel-sets at the Spanish-French border.
