The service, operated by Transfesa Logistics—part of DB Cargo—connects the HGK Logistics and Intermodal’s Westkai Terminal with the Perpignan Saint Charles Conteneur Terminal (PSCCT), near the Spanish border.
This increase follows a three-month trial phase. The route allows the transport of up to 36 semi-trailers or containers per train using pocket wagons, shifting freight from road to rail. In Cologne, HGK’s joint venture RheinCargo handles the last mile access to the DB rail network.
Perpignan was chosen due to its proximity to Spain, where a different track gauge complicates direct rail transport. The French terminal allows for smooth interchange without requiring wagon adjustments, enabling shipments such as automotive components and perishable goods to be moved efficiently towards Cologne.
The shift is intended to ease pressure on long-distance road freight corridors while offering a rail alternative for international transport between Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
