The Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) intermodal company Metrans will build another rail terminal in Hungary in order to expand its transport services along the Adriatic Corridor and towards Southern and South-Eastern Europe.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]HHLA’s subsidiary and the Hungarian government have signed a corresponding agreement for the construction of a terminal in Zalaegerszeg, located on the transport axis to the Adriatic ports of Trieste, Koper and Rijeka.
The foundations will be laid in the autumn of this year after the necessary legal framework has been created. The first section of the facility is expected to go into operation as early as 2023, while Metrans expects that approximately 120 new jobs will be created in Zalaegerszeg.
“We are investing in Hungary because we see significant potential there for the rail transportation of the future. The Adriatic Corridor is developing into an extremely important European transport axis,” said Angela Titzrath, chairwoman of HHLA’s executive board.
The total investment of over €40 million (US$48.5 million) includes a grant from Hungarian institutions amounting to approximately €11 million (US$13 million).
Peter Kiss, chairman of the executive board of the Metrans Group, stated, “This major financial investment demonstrates how important Hungary is to the further development of Metrans.”
Metrans has benefited from the increasing container volume transported by rail in Hungary in recent years, especially through the hub terminal in Budapest which opened in 2017. In the first year, approximately 250,000TEU were handled at the facility and this increased to 425,000TEU in 2019. Despite Covid-19 related restrictions, the number of boxes handled in 2020 has remained stable.
Regular block trains operated by Metrans connect Hungary, via Budapest and the Slovakian city of Du-najska Streda, to the North Sea ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam as well as to Duisburg, and the Adriatic ports of Trieste and Koper, according to a statement.
The entire European intermodal network of Metrans subsidiary comprises 17 of its own and other associated terminals. This network, and specifically the Buda-pest terminal, are also a key component in the New Silk Road, according to HHLA’s announcement.
“The planned terminal will help to give the country a further boost towards becoming one of the most efficient logistical hubs in Europe,” added Kiss.
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