HHLA Intermodal Polska, a HHLA subsidiary, has invested around 10 million euros in building the new terminal. For HHLA Intermodal, the investment in the terminal in the Silesia region represents a logical step in the systematic expansion of its high-performance hinterland network in Central, Eastern and SE Europe. The tenant and operator at the terminal is rail operator POLZUG, a company jointly owned by PKP Cargo S.A. (Polish State Railways), DB Mobility Logistics AG and HHLA (each with 33.33 percent).
Dr. Sebastian Jürgens, HHLA Executive Board member for the Intermodal and Logistics segments:
"Our new hinterland terminal near Katowice brings Hamburg and Silesia closer together. Very soon we shall be installing a neutral hub in Poznan and doing even more for Poland. Our major target will then to be build up high-frequency shuttle train connections between Poland and the Port of Hamburg."
Walter Schulze-Freyberg, Managing Director of POLZUG Intermodal:
"We bring HHLA's high standards for its terminals to Silesia. An efficient terminal infrastructure in Poland is the key to the POLZUG success story. Only this will enable us to run the transport chain from all the ports of Northern Europe to the final destination and cater for constantly growing customer requirements. Our new facility at Katowice is also optimally networked with other terminals in Poland."
Professor Juliusz Engelhardt, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure in Poland:
"The terminal opened today in Dabrowa Gornicza is a systematic step on the way towards the dynamic development of intermodal transport in Poland and can serve as an example for future investments of this kind."
The new terminal for intermodal traffic near Katowice offers all the services for which there is demand today from shipping companies and forwarders - extensive storage spaces for empty and loaded containers, for instance, as well as professional container delivery in door-to-door mode. One great advantage of the terminal consists of three rail sidings sufficiently long at 625 metres for complete block trains - meaning that container trains can be handled without having to be split up. That speeds up handling, reduces the effort required and hence costs.
The facility possesses extensive reserves of capacity, permitting annual throughput of up to 100,000 standard containers (TEU). Daily rail connections with the Northern European seaports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam ensure an optimal link with overseas and short-sea services. The hinterland terminal has its own tractorsand chassis for onward road transport of containers to the customer. "This facility represents a quantum leap in terms of technology, quality and service," said POLZUG Managing Director Schulze-Freyberg.
The terminal was opened on 30 June 2010 in the presence of numerous guests from the transport industry, shipping and logistics, as well as guests of honour including Professor Juliusz Engelhardt, Poland's Deputy Minister for Infrastructure in Poland, HHLA Executive Board members Dr. Sebastian Jürgens (Intermodal) and Dr. Roland Lappin (Finance), along with Wojciech Balczun, Chairman of the Executive Board of PKP Cargo, and Daniel Ryczek, PKP Cargo Executive Board member (Strategy and Intermodal Traffic).
POLZUG Intermodal has operated its own container trains between the Northern European container ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and the ports' hinterland in Poland and Eastern Europe since 1991. Each with a 33.3% stake, it is owned by HHLA Intermodal GmbH, (Hamburg), DB Mobility Logistics AG (Berlin) and die PKP Cargo S.A. (Warsaw).
HHLA intermodal companies offer a comprehensive rail and road transport network that links German seaports with their hinterland in Europe. Most shipments are to/from Central and Eastern Europe. The HHLA network transported 1.5 million standard containers in 2009. The rail companies TFG Transfracht (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Metrans (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) and Polzug (Poland, the CIS states) have successfully specialized in their regional markets, each being the market leaders for container transport by rail. By road, Container-Transport-Dienst (CTD) delivers/collects containers through its branches in Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin and Kornwestheim as well as on long-haul routes. HHLA will be systematically further expanding its network in the years to come.
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is one of the leading port logistics groups in the European North Range. With its Container, Intermodal and Logistics segments, HHLA is positioned vertically along the transport chain. Efficient container terminals, high-capacity transport systems and a full range of logistics services form a complete network between the overseas port and its European hinterland.