The Port of Gšteborg, the largest port in the Nordic region and the only one in Sweden with the capacity to receive post-panamax container vessels, has stepped up its transport of boxes by rail with the launch of RailPort Scandinavia.
The aim is to bring the shuttle centres' inland terminals closer to the port by allowing them to handle Customs clearance, storage, documentation and other services. First in line is Vaggeryd, a small town in southern Sweden, approximately 200 km east of Gšteborg.
Ten years ago the first shuttle, VŠnerexpressen, began operating to Karlstad. Today, there are 22 rail shuttles with daily departures to 20 towns in Sweden.
The Port of Gšteborg has worked together with rail operators, forwarders, shipping lines, the National Rail Administration and the Swedish import and export industry to build up a system of rail shuttles.
The investment has proved to be a success. In six years the volumes have more than trebled and each month new records are set. Apart from the significant environmental benefits from rail transport - last year the shuttles saved 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted -- it also means lower transport costs for shippers.
"RailPort Scandinavia is a means of facilitating logistics, reducing costs and increasing capacity," said Eric Nilsson, head of the port's rail centre.
The aim is to bring the shuttle centres' inland terminals closer to the port by allowing them to handle Customs clearance, storage, documentation and other services. First in line is Vaggeryd, a small town in southern Sweden, approximately 200 km east of Gšteborg.
Ten years ago the first shuttle, VŠnerexpressen, began operating to Karlstad. Today, there are 22 rail shuttles with daily departures to 20 towns in Sweden.
The Port of Gšteborg has worked together with rail operators, forwarders, shipping lines, the National Rail Administration and the Swedish import and export industry to build up a system of rail shuttles.
The investment has proved to be a success. In six years the volumes have more than trebled and each month new records are set. Apart from the significant environmental benefits from rail transport - last year the shuttles saved 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted -- it also means lower transport costs for shippers.
"RailPort Scandinavia is a means of facilitating logistics, reducing costs and increasing capacity," said Eric Nilsson, head of the port's rail centre.