Intra-European rail transport: a logical choice

Opting for intra-European rail transport is a smart, future-proof solution for businesses. Combining efficiency, speed, and sustainability, it serves as an attractive alternative to road and sea freight. With lower CO₂ emissions and significant cost savings, rail transport allows companies to reduce their environmental impact while optimizing their logistics processes. Rail Bridge Cargo (RBC) plays a pivotal role in making this service accessible and simplifying logistics challenges within Europe.

Rail Bridge Cargo is a trusted name in international rail transport, widely recognized for its services between Europe and Asia. Within Europe, RBC offers distinct advantages as well. Igor Tambaca of RBC explains:
“The European rail network is vast and complex, with numerous regional providers. Our key strength lies in our ability to handle all these providers through a single point of contact. This makes us the ideal partner for companies seeking efficiency, quality, and the convenience of working with just one party.”

One of the greatest assets of rail transport is its integration with road freight.
“Placing a trailer on a train provides a major advantage. Upon reaching its final destination, the trailer is unloaded and connected to a truck for the ‘last mile.’ This approach boosts overall efficiency and enables us to guarantee strict delivery timelines,” Igor says.

Cost-Effective and Sustainable

In addition to speed, rail transport within Europe is highly cost-effective.
“Our trains take only one to two days longer than regular road transport, but they are approximately 20% cheaper,” Igor notes. This makes rail freight appealing not only for companies’ total cost of ownership (TCO) but also for reducing CO₂ emissions.

Since July 1, 2024, companies with more than 100 employees are required to register their CO₂ emissions. Moreover, a CO₂ tax will be introduced in 2027.
“We’re seeing more companies wanting to get ahead of this legislation by actively choosing sustainable options like rail,” Igor continues. RBC offers clients comprehensive CO₂ reports based on the chosen route, simplifying the transition.
“For logistics companies, this is a serious wake-up call. Not only governments but also our customers increasingly demand concrete emission data.”

The Future of Rail in Europe

While the current rail capacity is sufficient, Igor sees opportunities for further growth and development.
“Governments need to do more to make rail transport even more appealing. Investments in infrastructure are already underway along various routes. Once these projects are completed, the benefits, particularly in terms of transit times, will be even greater.”

Rail transport also addresses the growing labor shortages in the logistics sector.
“What’s more efficient? One train driver transporting 50 trailers or dozens of truck drivers each operating a single trailer? In times of driver shortages, rail is a logical choice.”

Igor remains optimistic about the future:
“There are still many opportunities for rail transport in Europe. It allows businesses to save costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and simultaneously enhance the reliability of their supply chains.”

With intra-European rail solutions, sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand.