APA takes stake in Geleen rail terminal
Antwerp Port Authority has joined a consortium to operate the new rail terminal to be built on the Chemelot site in Geleen, the Netherlands. The other two shareholders in the consortium are Ewals Intermodal and Meulenberg. The capital cost of the new, open access terminal is estimated at 15.5 million euros. The project is being financed by a bank loan and a subsidy from the Dutch province of Limburg. Construction work is due to start in mid-2012, and the new terminal is expected to enter operation in April 2013, Antwerp Port Authority press release said.
Hinterland policy
The decision to participate in the terminal is the result of an extensive study that began in 2009. Among other things this looked at how participation in the rail terminal in the southern the Netherlands would fit in with the Port Authority's hinterland policy. As part of this policy the Port Authority seeks to expand the links with the port’s natural hinterland and draw cargo from a wider area, so that freight flows become established in Antwerp. “Participating in this new terminal in Geleen fits in with this challenge perfectly,” said Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx. “More specifically, the rail terminal will serve to increase the share of rail in the overall modal split for transport between South Netherlands and Antwerp. It will also enable us to attract more cargo from South Netherlands to Antwerp.”
Chemelot site
Chemelot is located on the second-largest chemical site in the Netherlands, and is one of the largest contiguous company locations in that country. Covering around 800 hectares it is an important centre for production of basic chemicals. Good rail connections and a rail terminal for chemicals and other products will strengthen the competitive position of the Chemelot industrial site.
Partners in the consortium
Meulenberg is a transport company, most of whose activity consists of carrying shipping containers from the Limburg Euro-region and the German Ruhr area to the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Ewals Intermodal is an intermodal logistics service provider which among other things operates trains to Italy. For its customers SABIC and DSM, Ewals Intermodal will also set up a new train corridor to Italy from RTC.