Splash247: Hamburg boosts rail links to bypass low Rhine water

Published by Splash247

The Port of Hamburg is pushing rail connections to Cologne and Duisburg as a backup for cargo hit by low water on the Rhine, aiming to offer shippers a more predictable route than barge-dependent corridors serving Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Persistent low water levels have cut inland waterway capacity, extended transit times and added cost for containers moving through the Dutch and Belgian gateways into the Lower Rhine region.

Hamburg said its regular combined transport services, operated by HGK Logistics and Intermodal and IGS Intermodal Container Logistics, can keep containers flowing between the port and the Lower Rhine regardless of river conditions.

The rail links connect Cologne and Duisburg directly with Hamburg’s seaport terminals and can be used for both import and export cargo. For cargo owners, the port said the rail option provides more stable transit times and greater supply chain resilience when barge capacity is tight.

Hamburg already handles around 200 freight trains and more than 5,500 wagons a day across its network, making it Europe’s largest rail port.

The current disruption on the Rhine gives the port another chance to attract inland cargo from Rotterdam and Antwerp as shippers reassess routes that are vulnerable to seasonal low water.