DP World has started handling cargo on a new intermodal rail service connecting its terminal in Novi Sad with Herne, an important logistics hub in the Rhine Ruhr region. The new service strengthens trade connections between Southeast Europe and Western Europe while providing customers with a faster and more sustainable transport option.
Operated by Austrian transport company LKW Walter, the rail link offers three departures per week and completes the journey in approximately 45 hours. This transit time is faster than many traditional long haul trucking routes and significantly reduces carbon emissions, with reductions of up to 80 percent compared with full road transport. The facility in Novi Sad is the first terminal in Serbia to offer a regular intermodal rail connection of this type to Western Europe.
According to Gokhan Yurteken, general manager of DP World Novi Sad, the new service strengthens Serbia’s integration into European supply chains while reinforcing its position as a strategic trade gateway in Southeast Europe. By providing a scheduled rail connection to the Rhine Ruhr region, the service offers customers a more predictable route into Western Europe while reducing reliance on cross border trucking.
The development comes as companies face increasing regulatory and operational challenges for long distance road transport between Serbia and the European Union. These include evolving EU regulations such as the Entry Exit System and stricter driver mobility rules that limit the number of days drivers can remain within EU territory.
Vladica Ćulafić, chief commercial officer at DP World Novi Sad, explained that customers are increasingly looking for logistics solutions that offer faster transit times, improved reliability and reduced administrative complexity. Intermodal rail transport addresses these challenges while also delivering measurable environmental benefits.
The intermodal model combines rail for the long distance segment with truck transport for first and last mile delivery. By shifting the majority of the journey to rail, the new Novi Sad to Herne connection reduces fuel consumption, emissions and dependency on long haul road transport while improving supply chain reliability for regional trade.
