From now on, the Med Express runs four times a week between Cologne and Perpignan. The train is dispatched at the Westkai in Niehl harbor. (Photo: HGK L&I)
From now on, the Med Express runs four times a week between Cologne and Perpignan. The train is dispatched at the Westkai in Niehl harbor. (Photo: HGK L&I)
2025-09-22

For about three months there has been a regular freight train connection between the Port of Cologne-Niehl and the Mediterranean. The container train departs from the Westkai Terminal of HGK Logistics and Intermodal GmbH and has the city of Perpignan in southern France as its destination.

Increased frequency

So far, three arrivals and

departures of the so-called “Med Express” per week have been offered. After the successful start-up phase, the frequency has now been increased to four trains per week.

The intermodal service between Cologne-Niehl and the Mediterranean city located not far from the Spanish border is operated by Transfesa Logistics, a subsidiary of DB Cargo.

According to the information, per train, semi-trailers and containers with a total capacity of 36 units can be moved from road to rail. Perpignan is suitable as a destination and departure point, since a large portion of the goods transported to Cologne, such as automotive components or perishable goods, originate from nearby Spain.

There is currently another rail gauge there. By using the Perpignan Saint Charles Container Terminal (PSCCT) in neighboring southern France, the need to re-gauge the wagons is eliminated.

And in Cologne, the HGK subsidiary RheinCargo will take over the last mile of the trains from the terminal into the DB network and back.