P&O Ferrymasters and Polish logistics firm Erontrans have launched a joint intermodal rail link between the UK, Benelux region and central Poland. The Europoort/Rotterdam-based LTE Netherlands will be carrier for the service, offering four trains a week between Rotterdam and the CLIP terminal at Swaredz-Poznan.

Though purpose-designed for huckepack trailers, the trains can also accommodate containers including 45-feet high cube pallet-wide (PW) units. Transit time from the UK to Poland, incorporating ferry crossing, is four days, and from the Benelux two days.

‘Procurement alliance’

P&O Ferrymasters and Erontrans are both specialists in trading from and to Poland, and they will share capacity equally.  The partnership is described as a ‘procurement alliance’, designed to optimise customer support for this specific service. The companies say that the dedicated train concept minimises risk with a unique integrated transport package that offers high service standards, increased payloads, reduced CO2 emissions and competitive pricing against road haulage. They add that the arrangement provides in-house possibilities for onward shipping.

LTE Netherlands is part of the wider LTE Group, which has operations across Europe and is also experienced on Polish trade. It was selected, says P&O Ferrymasters, after a joint benchmarking process that confirmed the company’s proven track record, its high level of flexibility and its cost-effective pricing structure.