Another outcome of the CREAM project, is a new multimodal short sea –
rail transport service between Turkey – Germany vie the Port of Trieste
in Italy. (“The CREAM Project: Technical and operational innovations implemented on a European rail freight corridor”, 07/2012)
Turkish trucks travel up to 7.000 km in each round-trip on their journey to and from West European countries. Ekol Logistics has developed an effective and environmentally friendly solution to this problem. A new intermodal transport system which reduced the share of land transport to only 2.000 km.
Started in 2008, Ekol Logistics, in cooperation with further CREAM project partners Kombiverkehr, Lokomotion and Rail Traction Company (RTC), has conducted transports between Turkey and Western Europe according
to a completely new organisation form. This new intermodal transport service, developed as part of the CREAM project activities, is mainly based on short sea and rail transport service and is using the route Turkey – Italy – Germany. Originating from the use of ferry services between the Turkish ports in Istanbul, Izmir and Mersin and the Italian Port of Trieste, the multimodal concept exhibits an innovative combination of these ferry boat connections on one side and a shuttle-train connection between Trieste and Worms (Germany), on the other side.
In detail the new transport concept works like this: Turkish commodities are loaded to semi trailers, capable for being used in intermodal transport, and are hauled to Istanbul, Izmir and Mersin ports. There the semi trailers are loaded on board of Ro-Ro vessels and are transported to Italy in a 3-days ship passage. After arrival in the Port of Trieste, the semi-trailers are transhipped on the intermodal block train towards Germany. The train trip to its destination, the intermodal transshipment terminal in Worms, required a transit time of less than one day. From Worms or via Ekol’s distribution centre in Heppenheim the semi trailers were transported with German registered trucks to destinations in Germany or other West European countries such as Benelux countries, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland and Spain.
Ekol’s multimodal transport network TR/EL – IT - DE (https://www.ekol.com/en/countries/germany/intermodal/)
Having started in 2008 with initially one weekly train round trip, the frequency could be extended stepwise from year to year up to seven weekly round trips at the beginning of 2012. Also in the following periods, Ekol’s multimodal network has been further strengthened and extended with own shares in port terminals, extended consolidation points and further transport relations, additional extensions are in the pipeline.
Recently, Ekol acquired a 65-percent share in Europa Multipurpose Terminals (EMT) in Trieste. Following further investments in the terminal, it will be possible to handle two separate Ro-Ro operations simultaneously and train loading capacity will grow to 10 daily trips. Since 2018, Ekol’s Ro-Ro services also connects the Port of Lavrio in Greece in addition to the Turkish port destinations developed during CREAM. Further Ro-Ro services are planned between Trieste and other countries including Israel and Egypt. In Germany, meanwhile three consolidation centers have been developed, which are in Köln, Ludwigshafen, and Kiel. Within Ekol’s multimodal network, Germany acts as a transportation bridge to other European countries, offering servicesacross Europe and Scandinavia. (https://www.ekol.com/en/countries/germany/intermodal/)
In parallel, the multimodal short sea – rail transport concept has been adapted and further developed by MARS Logistics, another turkish forwarding company. As Ekol, MARS transports cargoes from various regions in Turkey via Istanbul, İzmir and Mersin seaports and Ro-Ro services to Trieste. From there, the cargo is transported by rail to Luxembourg. Currently, there are six weekly round trips opertated between Trieste and the intermodal terminal in Bettembourg (Luxembourg). The last leg by road connects various destinations in Luxemburg, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK, France and Germany. (https://www.marslogistics.com/en/intermodal-transportation)
In relation to Logistics Networks, the multimodal transport concept can be considered as a lighthouse initiative for multimodality. The concept combines different modes smartly, utilising each mode according to their best capabilities.
Expected impacts mainly concern: