Companies gather to showcase new technologies enabling the seamless integration of non-craneable truck trailers into eco-friendly rail transport networks at the Bettembourg-Dudelange multimodal platform.
Four companies in the intermodal transport sector gathered at the “Truck2Rail” event in Bettembourg-Dudelange, Luxembourg, to showcase innovations for transporting non-craneable truck trailers by rail. The event, hosted jointly by TIP Group, CFL Terminals, TX Logistik, and Ermewa aimed to promote environmental sustainability through the integration of rail transportation into logistics chains.
The initiative is a response to the growing interest among European shippers in adopting rail for long-distance transportation while using road for shorter hauls. The majority of truck-trailers in Europe are not craneable and therefore their only option for transport is by road. At the Bettembourg-Dudelange multimodal platform operated by CFL terminals, TX Logistik demonstrated its NIKRASA off-road platform technology, designed to simplify the transfer of non-craneable trailers onto standard rail wagons. This method involves loading a trailer onto a platform, and then onto a specialised pocket rail wagon. This allows seamless integration into rail transport systems.
The Truck2Rail conference attracted a number of transport companies interested in exploring rail as an alternative to their logistics strategies. TX Logistik’s NIKRASA, which was highlighted during the event attracted attention for its efficiency and ease of loading trailers onto rail wagons, without requiring fleet modifications.
Cyrille Guyon is the Deputy Managing director of Ermewa. She said: “Rail transportation is active climate protection.” Truck2Rail is a project that aims to promote sustainable transport chains by introducing innovative solutions. “Bringing non-craneable trailers to the rails is a tangible way to reduce CO2 emissions in freight transport, and drive forward the European Green Deal.”
Rogier Laan from TIP Group’s VP Sales & Marketing said: “If your main run in transport chain is on rail, you don’t have to change in the trailer park. The new platform solutions allow for combined transport to be carried out at any terminal. “For us, the equipment and processes remain the same. But the impact on customers and the environment are significant.”
Christoph Dorre, Manager NIKRASA at TX Logistics, stated: “With NIKRASA, we have developed a simple solution for non-craneable towed trailers. In only two minutes, they can be loaded from the road to the rail. We are enabling our customers to cover the majority of their transport by rail in the most environmentally friendly and economical way without any additional investments or technical adaptations. “Offering great potential for an urgently needed modal switch, with great impacts for nature.”