Koln, Germany: DB Schenker Rail has launched a freight service carrying road trailers between Koln and the Cerkezkoy freight terminal near Istanbul.
The journey time is five to six days. The semi-trailer service follows the launch of DB Schenker Rail's Germany - Turkey Bosporus Shuttlecontainer and wagonload service in September 2013.
"Our new rail product is the first rail connection that is able to transport semi-trailers directly to their destination in Turkey, 40 km outside of Istanbul. Up to now, this procedure was only possible with containers', said Andreas Schulz, head of the intermodal industry sector, DB Schenker Rail.
The service is operated for Turkish freight forwarder Ulusoy Logistics, which has transferred its existing traffic from road and ferry to rail. Subject to demand, DB hopes to increase the initial weekly semi-trailer service to three per week by the end of the year.