Port of Antwerp-Bruges and infrastructure agency Lantis are funding 10 logistics projects with almost €1 million to move freight from truck to rail, barge, and nighttime operations, aiming to ease congestion from the roughly 16,000 daily heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) bound for the port.
The projects, selected from more than 30 applications following a late-2025 open call, will receive funding over up to two years, with individual companies eligible for up to €100,000 and consortium projects up to €200,000, covering a maximum of half of project costs. Six projects focus on shifting cargo to rail or inland waterways: Duferco plans a new Antwerp-La Louvière rail link, INEOS Phenol and LLH intend to replace truck movements with block trains, and PSA Antwerp will expand inter-terminal rail use. Hutchison Ports is backing a fixed barge connection between Willebroek and Antwerp, while Katoen Natie will build a consolidation hub to cut waiting times.
Nighttime operations feature prominently: Van Moer Logistics aims to shift 19,500 container movements into off-peak hours, alongside a separate rail project targeting 2,392 TEU, while DP World will extend container handling further into the night. Logistics tech firm Antser will develop a digital planning tool to reduce empty runs and Scheldt crossings. Flemish mobility minister Annick De Ridder said the initiative supports accessibility and competitiveness in the region. Lantis and Port of Antwerp-Bruges have not published a combined target for peak-hour trip reductions but say the projects should collectively eliminate thousands of them.
IAM Member Impact: Members coordinating European household goods or freight through the port may benefit from earlier engagement with participating operators, particularly Van Moer, DP World, and PSA Antwerp, as new rail, barge, and off-peak options come online.
Source: Trans.iNFO