Austria Direct launches

The Austrian Rail Cargo Group and Nordisk Transport Rail, a subsidiary of the Swedish rail haulier Green Cargo, have put in place a shuttle train between Malmö/Trelleborg and Vienna.

The service runs three times per week in both directions. The lead time between the Port of Rostock, to which the cargo is carried by ferries from the Swedish coast, and the capital of Austria is 25 hours.

Southbound trains leave Malmö/Trelleborg on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving in Vienna on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, respectively. Shuttles in the opposite direction depart each Monday (with arrival in Sweden on Wednesday), Wednesday (Friday), and Friday (Sunday).

The initial volumes comprise Swedish exports of paper and pulp to Austria, Hungary, and other southeastern European economies. On the backhaul leg, in turn, rails are imported from Austria.

By taking the combined ferry-train Austria Direct service, the level of CO2 emissions on the route in question is reduced by 63% vs. when going by road, according to Green Cargo.

Photo: Green Cargo