The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strengthening its railway infrastructure through three strategic new connections.
These expanded freight rail services establish direct links between Antwerp and both Widnau and Frenkendorf, create a Zeebrugge-Mannheim corridor, and forge a Chengdu-Antwerp route.
Since August 2025, businesses operating in Switzerland’s Rhine Valley region have gained access to direct rail connectivity to major European maritime hubs through the Widnau Express. This containerized freight service, operated by Schweizerzug provides rapid transport links to Widnau and Frenkendorf terminals.
The Widnau Express operates on a structured schedule: three weekly departures between Antwerp Gateway and Frenkendorf, plus two additional weekly services extending to Widnau.
Frenkendorf serves as a strategic hub, connecting to established Schweizerzug networks serving Antwerp (Belgium), Rotterdam (The Netherlands), and Genoa (Italy). This network expansion enables sustainable, rapid, and cost-effective freight movement to Europe’s primary port facilities.
Since late August, COSCO Shipping Lines has established direct rail operations linking the CSP Zeebrugge Terminal with Contargo Mannheim in Germany.
The service maintains bi-directional operations two to three times weekly, featuring approximately 13-hour transit times and accommodating 80 TEU capacity. Mannheim functions as a distribution hub, with trucking networks extending cargo delivery to key Southwest German industrial centers: Ludwigshafen, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, and Mainz.
This sea-rail corridor creates direct connectivity between Zeebrugge’s strategic North Sea location and Germany’s manufacturing core.
Through multimodal transport solutions replacing traditional road freight, COSCO Shipping Lines contributes to enhanced efficiency and environmental sustainability across European logistics networks.
On August 27th, the inaugural freight service from Chengdu’s Qingbaijiang Railway Terminal reached Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Cargo distribution continued through multiple channels: Kombiverkehr facilitated onward transport to Barcelona, while shortsea shipping services extended reach to North African markets.
The service, formally designated as the “Dedicated DPD of La Poste of France China-Europe Africa Train Service Chengdu-Antwerp,” represents collaborative efforts between Silk Road Leader, Chengdu International Rail Service Company, and DPD of La Poste France.
DPD maintains operational presence in Chengdu through its local branch facility.
Participating rail operators are working toward establishing weekly service frequency to Antwerp as their long-term operational objective.
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