DP World launches rail corridor linking Zeebrugge to Aiud as automotive hub

DP World completed its first delivery of finished vehicles by rail from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Aiud, Romania, marking the company's inaugural end‑to‑end vehicle rail operation in Europe. The initial shipment, bound for Chișinău, Moldova, will continue by road from Aiud to its final destination.

The firm plans to develop Aiud into a regional distribution hub for finished vehicles serving Romania and neighboring markets, with a regular twice‑monthly service slated for the second half of 2026. Additional connections to other European ports, such as Koper in Slovenia, are also under consideration.

DP World estimates that the intermodal rail‑road service can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 55 % compared with equivalent long‑haul road transport and provide greater cost certainty by reducing exposure to changing road‑transport regulations and charges. The Aiud multimodal logistics terminal, opened in 2024 after a €21 million investment, spans 180,000 sqm, sits beside the A10 motorway and is linked to Romania’s national rail network, offering container handling, storage, customs and freight‑forwarding services.

"Automotive companies are looking to reduce their exposure to long‑distance road transport," said Dragos Calin, Director Freight, Balkans at DP World. "Our strategy is to build a more connected European logistics network, creating new trade corridors and giving customers greater choice in how they move goods across the continent," added Svitlana Balaban, CEO of DP World Romania.