In a statement the Port, the largest in Scandinavia, described it as a “rapid, dependable, climate-smart link” that can transfer 2,000 trucks from road to rail and cut carbon emissions by 700,000kg annually.
Claes Sundmark, Vice-President, Business Area Container, the Gothenburg Port Authority, said the new rail has the potential to “increase even further with a highly skilled rail operator that is bringing much sough-after solution to market.”
“The demand for rail transport is continuing to grow, and a further increase will help us achieve our highly ambitious climate goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70% by 2030. It is a natural progression for us to continue investing offensively in rail services in partnership with our terminals and rail operators,” said Sundmark.
The new shuttle service has been launched by the Norwegian rail operator Cargonet and it will initially operate once a week in each direction between Oslo and the Port of Gothenburg.
Cargonet chief executive Erik Røhne also commented: “Our experience is that demand for an environmentally friendly transport solution between Oslo and the Port of Gothenburg has increased in recent years.
“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.”
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.
This is equivalent to having 2,000 fewer trucks each year operating on the extremely busy E6 motorway between Gothenburg and Oslo. The switch from road to rail will result in a reduction in carbon emissions of 724,000 kg.
At present around 60% of container volumes to and from the Port of Gothenburg are transported by rail. This figure puts the Port of Gothenburg among the top rail freight ports in the world.
Investments include an expansion of 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.
