New direct train Nuremberg-Trieste improves supply chains

The new direct connection, implemented in cooperation between Cobantur Boltas and DFDS Mediterranean Business Unit, the Turkey subsidiary of DFDS, expands our customers range of sustainable transports between Europe, Turkey and beyond.

Successful launch of the new connection

The first train on the new line left Trieste last Thursday, November 5 and reached the TriCon-Terminal in Nuremberg on Friday, November 6, 2020. The connection is part of the intermodal freight traffic to Turkey, Greece and the neighboring economic areas. The new block train is operated by DFDS and connects Nuremberg, via Trieste, with Pendik and Ambarli in Turkey and Patras in Greece, with regional and supra-regional pre-carriage and onward carriage in each case.

The weekly train consists of 4 double pocket wagons and 26 flat wagon groups with a capacity of 8 megatrailers and 26 45-foot containers. In the near future, an increase in the service to 2 – 3 weekly departures is planned.

The President of the DFDS Mediterranean Business Unit, Lars Hoffmann, highlighted the importance of the Nuremberg-Trieste connection as a strategic development: “The DFDS Mediterranean Business Unit, in partnership with Cobantur Boltas, has become the operator of the new direct rail link Nuremberg-Trieste, further improving our sustainable supply chain services. We are very pleased to have added another strategically important service to our service portfolio”.

A strong intermodal infrastructure

As one of the largest integrated shipping and logistics companies in Europe and operator of narrow route networks in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel and Mediterranean, DFDS offers a strong intermodal transport infrastructure, with ro-ro services between Turkey and Europe and rail connections from Italy.

DFDS has decided to establish an intermodal competence center in Cologne, Germany, as train solutions are considered an important part of its future business. This new line is the first successful project of the competence center and the joint venture with primeRail GmbH.

The Turkish-German logistics association Cobantur Boltas, based in Maltepe/İstanbul, and Allersberg/Nuremberg, has been handling transports via Trieste for 20 years. “With the new service, we are expanding our range of resilient and sustainable connections between these now closer economic areas with the support of DFDS,” says Iskender Cobanoglu, member of the Board of Directors at Cobantur Boltas and Managing Director of the German Boltas GmbH.