Calais-Domodossola line becomes part of CargoBeamer’s network

CargoBeamer will add the Calais-Domodossola line to its intermodal network this October. The first trains will depart on 4 October, and the service will offer four weekly roundtrips. However, from December on, the weekly departures will increase to six on the France-Italy line.

CaegoBeamer says that the new intermodal line will not differ from the existing ones. Transportation will include cranable and non-cranable semi-trailers, containers, dangerous goods, P400s, controlled temperature trailers and bulk wagons.

Three-month timeframe

The Cargobeamer in Calais opened on Wednesday, 16 June. The first test train to Perpignan departed on the same day. The terminal is the first of Cargobeamer that runs entirely on its own technical loading concept. This concept enables semi-trailers of all types to be lifted on a train. Cargobeamer already applies the technology outside of its own terminal. But by having its own terminal, the process becomes more efficient. It can handle 6 to 12 trains per day, in a much faster way than with conventional loading techniques, said Hans-Jürgen Weidemann, CEO of CargoBeamer.

On 10 July, the route between Calais-Perpignan in France became available to the market. On 16 July, the first trains started travelling between the two destinations, while the service offers four weekly roundtrips. A bit more than a month later, Domodossola was added to Calais’ network. Nevertheless, CargoBeamer has more plants for its French terminal since, during 2021, it aims to link it with Poznan in Poland. Additionally, it wants to connect Perpignan with Kaldenkirchen in Germany.

What’s more to come? Two more terminals will accompany that of Calais. The German-based intermodal company will build two more terminals, one in Domodossola and one in Kaldenkirchen. Construction will begin by the end of 2021 in both sites and be complete by mid or late 2022. Both terminals will offer a capacity of 1,000 semi-trailers per day.

Also read:

• New intermodal terminal opens in Calais next week
• Official opening of Calais-Perpignan route by CargoBeamer