The province of South Holland has unveiled plans for an international freight train dedicated to the transport of fresh produce. The pilot project aims to run a train from Valencia via Rotterdam to Oslo by the end of the year. The initiative aims to demonstrate the potential of rail to meet the growing demand for efficient and environmentally friendly delivery of fresh produce.
As Europe's largest hub for fresh produce and a major logistics center, Rotterdam is ideally placed to lead this project, which could lead to a reduction in congestion and emissions. The government, the Port of Rotterdam, the Dutch airport Greenports, the Province of Limburg and major players in the fresh produce market, including COOP and Greenyard, are working together on this initiative.
The train will carry a variety of fresh produce, including Spanish oranges and tomatoes, Norwegian salmon and various products from the Netherlands. Starting with one train a week, the project aims to expand to several trains a day, depending on the alleviation of current logistical bottlenecks. This change represents a significant step towards reducing road transport of fresh produce, which currently accounts for 98% of the market.
One of the key benefits highlighted is the time-saving aspect, with the train journey from Valencia to Oslo expected to be 24 hours shorter than road transport. This reduction from 100 to 70 hours not only improves efficiency but also promises cost savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions.
However, a number of hurdles need to be overcome to make this vision a reality, such as freeing up space in international rail timetables for priority train paths, reducing bureaucratic delays at borders, and harmonizing fares across Europe's national rail networks. Frederik Zevenbergen, Deputy Commissioner for Transport and Traffic Affairs of the Province of Zuid-Holland, stressed the need to harmonize legislation similarly to the growth of European road freight transport.
