Red Sea trade routes closure: Lineas and CSP Zeebrugge set up new train connection between Zeebrugge and Graz.
Lineas, in collaboration with CSP Zeebrugge, has set up a new train connection between Zeebrugge and Graz, Austria on behalf of COSCO Shipping Lines. This solution comes in response to the logistical challenges caused by ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels, which have made the usual route along the Red Sea and via the port of Piraeus, Greece, temporarily impossible for COSCO Shipping Lines.
The need to find an alternative route quickly brought Lineas and CSP Zeebrugge together to create an efficient and flexible solution. The train service between Zeebrugge and Graz provides a fast and reliable connection for the delivery of freight from Belgium to Austria.
Bernard Gustin, Executive Chairman of Lineas, stated, "We are pleased that we were able to respond quickly and effectively to the challenges faced by our COSCO Group partners. This new connection highlights the flexibility of our network, and we are committed to continuing to provide innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Tom De Wannemacker, Business Development Manager at CSP Zeebrugge, added: "The cooperation with Lineas allows us to maintain the reliability and customer focus of our service, even in challenging times. We are very pleased with the speed and flexibility with which Lineas has been able to implement this solution, and we look forward to further expanding our freight transport capabilities."
About Lineas
Lineas helps companies make their supply chains climate-neutral by shifting their cargo from road to rail, reducing CO2 emissions by 90%. To this end, the company has built the largest private rail network in Europe offering customers fast, daily and reliable connections across the continent. Lineas has nearly 2,000 employees and is headquartered in Belgium with offices in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
Lineas is the largest private rail freight company whose shareholders are the independent private equity group Argos Wityu and FPIM.
About CSP Zeebrugge
CSP Zeebrugge is a leading container handler in the Port of Zeebrugge and can handle the largest container ships in the world. The terminal is part of Cosco Shipping Ports, one of the world's largest port groups based in Hong Kong. CSP Zeebrugge operates the container terminal in the outer port of Zeebrugge, a joint venture between Cosco Shipping Ports (90%) and CMA Terminals (10%).
CSP Zeebrugge and its hinterland partners offer an extensive network of hinterland connections for multimodal on-carriage. At our terminal, we also offer stripping and stuffing of containers by specialized personnel.