Combined transport from Portugal to Russia

Chiasso, 23 April 2009 – In spite of the economic crisis, Hupac continues to maintain its transportation network in all key markets, even enhancing it with new connections to Portugal, Spain, Russia, and Romania. The company's spectrum of services for 4-meter transports on the north-south axis is also being expanded.

"Hupac stands for continuity." This is the spirit in which the Swiss-based operator of combined transport will present its European network at Transport Logistic 2009 in Munich. "We have been in this market for over forty years with our own resources and extensive know-how," said Hupac managing director Bernhard Kunz. "In spite of the crisis, we continue to maintain our combined transport network in all key markets and offer our customers the usual standard of service."

This includes the continuous expansion of services in the interest of Hupac's customers. For example, the Shuttle Net, which shifts approximately 700,000 consignments from road to rail every year with over 100 trains per day, now offers new connections from Antwerp to Madrid, Seville, Lisbon, Leixoes/Porto and Setùbal. "We are opening up the Iberian peninsula via three weekly shuttle trains between Antwerp and Hendaye," explains Peter Howald, director of Intermodal Services. All trains of the southern France/Spain segment, which also includes the destinations Bordeaux and Perpignan in addition to Hendaye, connect directly to the Hupac network in Eastern Europe via a central terminal located in Antwerp. Shipments from Antwerp, Rotterdam, Duisburg, Ludwigshafen, Busto Arsizio and Zeebrugge are combined at the hub in Schwarzheide and transported daily to Warsaw, Kobylnica and Slawkow in Poland. "Via our partner Russkaya Troyka, we offer connections from Slawkow to Moscow and other Russian destinations," says Howald.

A link to Romania is currently also in the starting blocks. Via the Budapest terminal, which Hupac services four times a week from Duisburg or Rotterdam, a connection to the newly constructed Curtici terminal will be added to the Shuttle Net in the near future.

Hupac also reports news regarding its core connections on the north-south routes. Earlier this year, a link between Taulov and Verona through the Brenner pass was integrated into the network. As a result, transports between Denmark and Italy increased by four to now sixteen departures per week. "The new Brenner connection is particularly interesting for 4-meter transports," explains Howald. "We are also planning to add a new connection between Cologne and Novara via Lötschberg to this segment."

Hupac owns its own rolling stock and terminals and continuously invests in the expansion of combined transport. In Antwerp, the HTA Hupac Terminal Antwerp and the Combinant terminal in cooperation with BASF and IFB are under construction. Operations in both facilities are expected to start up in 2010. The renovation and completion of the Hupac terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate is also progressing. "Hupac has a solid basis, which provides us with the necessary security, even during difficult times," emphasizes Hupac managing director Bernhard Kunz. "Although we had to adjust capacities to reflect lower demand in some areas, we continue to make strategic investments. We intend to be ready when the economy recovers."

Timetables and other details about our products are available on the Internet at www.hupac.ch
At Transport Logistic you will find us in Hall B6, Booth 317/416.