CFL Multimodal and KLOG Logistics Solutions have announced the launch of a new intermodal connection between Sète (France) and Poznań (Poland). At over 2,000 kilometers, this route is one of the five longest intermodal rail connections in Europe.
The connection, which operates one round trip a week, is used to deliver home furnishing products for IKEA to the Spanish market and fashion clothing for Inditex, owner of brands such as Zara, Bershka, and Massimo Dutti, to Poznan, where the Spanish company has its warehouse for online orders in Central Europe. CFL Cargo is the main traction provider and Captrain Polska is responsible for traction in Poland.
“We are delighted to be working continuously with KLOG, together with IKEA and Inditex, on sustainable developments, shifting the delivery of goods from road to rail, and thus, reducing carbon emissions. For instance, we are currently evaluating the potential expansion of this new connection with more door-to-door solutions and thus a strengthening of this collaboration on future endeavors,” said Sven Löffler, Chief Commercial Officer CFL Multimodal.
Each train carries up to 38 trailers of IKEA and Inditex products. In addition, the T3000 wagons for the P400 wagons provide multimodal flexibility and facilitate fast loading, seamlessly connecting the Spanish and Polish markets in just 48 hours and saving more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. Cooperation is therefore a key element in a sustainable future.
"One of the key priorities for us at IKEA is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from each product transport by an average of 70% by 2030 compared to 2017. To achieve this goal, we must work with partners to collectively transform the transport industry. One way is to use rail transport to increase the share of intermodal solutions that leads to fewer trucks on the roads, reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and carbon dioxide emissions while creating opportunities for an improved work-life balance for drivers,” commented Dariusz Mroczek, Category Area Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations.
