IFB invests in new destinations.
With the Rhone-Flanders Express, a new line between Antwerp/Zeebruges and Lyon, the company opens the way for intermodal transport to Southern Europe in cooperation with ECR, the second largest railway operator in France.
One of IFB’s important strategic axes is the optimization of the production of the major international transport flows. That is why the group works with strategic partners to guarantee foreign transport from door to door. In response to market demand IFB, which is specialised in intermodal transport, has developed a new line to facilitate transport to Southern Europe. For the Rhone-Flanders Express from Antwerp to Lyon (with a stop in Chalindrey), IFB has chosen to work with EuroCargoRail (ECR), a private European rail company.
The Rhone-Flanders Express guarantees rail transport to Chalindrey and Lyon from Antwerp/Zeebruges twice a week.
Ivan Geilenkotten, CEO of Inter Ferry Boats: “IFB wants to continue to invest in new destinations and services to supplement our offering. We have also had specific demands from the market for quality connections to France, which is why we have developed direct transport to these destinations. Because of the increasing congestion on the roads, we have noticed that there is an increasing need for good quality rail transport and we have the capacity to supply it. Thanks to collaborations with subsidiaries and trusted partners we can offer complete logistical solutions now which go further than rail transport from A to B, and our customers appreciate the service.”
Geert Pauwels, Managing Director of IFB and coordinator of the NMBS/SNCB freight group, adds: “For these French destinations we have chosen to work with ECR, which is now the 2nd railway operator for freight transport in France. They have the safety certificates necessary to allow the group to cover the entire territory of France. This is a strategic decision to work with a quality partner. TRW, a sister company, already collaborates successfully with ECR and there is still a great deal of potential in the French and Spanish markets, so we want to expand this partnership in the future.”
About IFB:
Inter Ferry Boats is a 100% subsidiary of NMBS/SNCB that is based in Antwerp. For over ten years the group has offered reliable multimodal solutions for transporting containers, raw materials and goods, at home and abroad, by railway, freighter or lorry. IFB offers rail transport, but also has terminals in Belgium and France for freight handling. IFB has also developed the successful Narcon (National Rail Container Network), a daily connection via rail, terminal and truck between the quays of Antwerp and Zeebruges and their hinterland. RailForce is a division of IFB that supplies transport specifically for the chemical and automotive industries.
For all further information:
IFB nv – Veerle Van Mierlo – Tel. 0472/92 02 29 – veerle.van.mierlo@interferryboats.be
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