Ekol launches block train service between Belgium and Italy 26 September 2017

Just three weeks ago Ekol Logistics announced opening of new block train connecting Budapest with Cologne that was the first train solution in Ekol East-West corridor. Now the Company is announcing the launch of a new block train between Zeebrugge, Belgium and Trieste, Italy.

This new connection continues to support the Ekol network expansion in the South-North corridor to link its strategic markets.

Ekol is executing its strategy to offer more and more intermodal connections inside Europe. It connected the Mediterranean with the Baltic sea by the Trieste-Kiel train in January 2017 and is now offering customers a new direct connection between the Mediterranean and the North Sea.

This new block train will be the first direct train that will connect Turkey, Iran and the Middle East with the Benelux countries, France and all the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland) in a totally green mode.

The train will leave EMT Trieste Terminal two times per week. This new solution will allow for transporting different types of equipment like Mega trailers, containers and swap bodies.

Thanks to cooperation with the Zeebrugge port and the strategic partner P&O Ferries, Ekol can transport shipments using P&O Ferries to different key regions in England (Tilbury, Hull, Teesport) and to other destinations with other partners.

This service will be operated by Hupac and is expected to carry around 5,000 shipments per year for Ekol. The cutting-edge service will directly connect Turkey with the UK within very competitive transit-times. Hupac deploys its own modern wagon fleet and manages the day-to-day train operations.

Thanks to this new block train Ekol will save 15, 000 trees every month and enough fuel to go nine times around globe. Offering environmentally friendly solutions is the key point in Ekol’s strategy. Last year, Ekol acquired shares of the EMT port in Trieste and announced the development of more intermodal connections from Trieste. So, this new train is also part of the strategy to develop this port.