The Leo Shuttle, a new dedicated intermodal rail service by MSC, aims to connect the company’s MPET terminal at the Port of Antwerp with Vienna. The new service will also involve the Port of Antwerp and rail freight operator Lineas, which will integrate it in its European Green Xpress network.

The Leo Shuttle will not provide a new connection as it will follow Lineas’ Vienna Xpress route and itineraries. However, it will be a separate MSC dedicated train that will serve the shipping company’s customers with a direct intermodal connection.

New possibilities

MSC already offers almost 35 weekly direct rail connections from its MPET terminal in Antwerp. The new service will connect Vienna and Austria with its broader network of short and long sea connections. It is characterised by flexibility since it will offer a minimum of four departures per week, fast transit times and links to other MSC services. Moreover, and upon customer request, it can also provide additional benefits and amenities such as insurance, VGM/Solas certification and others.

Furthermore, it is important to underline that with this dedicated shuttle, MSC’s customers will have the opportunity to reach afar destinations such as Australia, the U.S or Africa via sea transportation. Short-sea services are available too, connecting, for instance, the North Sea or Baltic ports. Transportation of cargo on land and sea will take place without any transhipment procedures, saving, thus, precious transit time.

“I am very proud that MSC, in cooperation with Lineas, is the first-ever to set up a rail connection between Vienna and the biggest single terminal in Europe, Antwerp MPET. It is an important step for MSC Austria as we are again opening a new route to the sea”, commented Nicola Lelli, Managing Director of MSC Austria. Apart from connections to the Adriatic and Mediterranean sea that extend to the East, MSC will now connect Austria to North-Western Europe and relevant land and sea routes, opening further opportunities for connections worldwide.

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