XPO Logistics has launched a 2,600 km multimodal corridor connecting the Belgian port city of Antwerp and Istanbul in Turkey. The logistics provider said the service is designed to support a wide range of industries, including automotive.
The new route combines road and rail and XPO said the combination will reduce transit time from ten days to eight compared to only using road. At the same time it is designed to enhance logistics capabilities enabling companies to move greater product volumes between the trade hubs.
XPO said the multimodal link offers customers a more regular service throughout the year, even in peak season, while also reducing road congestion. XPO is providing customers the further option of combining short-sea shipping and rail, with rail transit between Duisburg, Germany, and the port at Trieste, Italy, connecting to sea transit between Trieste and Izmir, Turkey. The service promises support for just-in-time schedules of the automotive industry.
“The automotive industry, with its complex supply chains and time-sensitive shipments, can benefit significantly from this new multimodal transport offering,” a spokesperson for XPO told Automotive Logistics. “OEMs and suppliers shipping inbound parts can leverage this service to optimise their supply chain, potentially reducing transit times and improving reliability in their just-in-time manufacturing processes.”
The multimodal service also promises advantages for service parts shipments, according to XPO.
“Aftermarket parts distributors can benefit from the flexibility and efficiency of the XPO multimodal solution, allowing them to maintain competitive lead times and manage inventory more effectively,” said the spokesperson.
According to the logistics provider the service well-suited for automotive companies who will be able to adapt varying shipment sizes and frequencies, while at the same time being able to rely on consistent transit times, which support production planning.
Sustainable service
XPO is also flagging up the environmental credentials of the services compared to exclusive road haulage. Rail transport produces approximately 80% fewer emissions than traditional road transport, which equates to approximately 3,100 kg less CO2 emitted per trip on the route, according to the company. It is also credited with being more cost effective and has the potential to reduce overall logistics costs through optimised routing.
Carmakers eager to decarbonise the logistics supporting their supply chains are looking for those CO2 emissions savings.
“Our dedication to multimodal transport solutions has been highly successful, strengthening XPO´s position in the combined road, sea and rail transportation market,” said Christophe Verot, managing director for Central Europe at XPO Logistics. “The implementation of multimodal solutions is a crucial step in enhancing the efficiency of our customers’ goods movement while also reducing their supply chain carbon footprint to help them meet sustainability objectives. We are confident that the new corridor between Belgium and Turkey will result in environmental efficiencies, enhanced safety, and reduced transit times for our customers.”
XPO referred to its suite of low-emission sustainable solutions (Less), a service designed to assist customers who are looking to take carbon out of the supply chain and hit sustainability targets. Along with providing alternative modes to road, Less includes options for curbing CO2 emissions by substituting diesel with alternative fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, natural gas and electricity.
“With transport responsible for almost 37% of global carbon emissions and heavy trucks alone accounting for approximately 25% of transport emissions, it is vital to improve opportunities to reduce emissions through innovative solutions like Less.
The latest service builds on XPO’s existing rail and road services. They include: between Barcelona, Spain, and Bettembourg, Luxembourg; Le Boulou and Calais, France; and Domodossa, Italy, and Duisburg, Germany. In addition, XPO operates short sea shipping routes between the ports of Liverpool, UK, Santander, Spain, Barcelona, Spain, and Savona, Italy.
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