Operator for Container Terminal Straubing-Sand Selected

A bidding consortium consisting of the container hinterland logistics network Contargo, SFI GmbH, and the Ziegler Group has won a Europe-wide tender for the operation of the new bimodal container terminal in Straubing-Sand. On August 30, the newly founded joint venture of the bidders, Contargo Combitrac Straubing-Sand GmbH, signed the operating lease agreement for the terminal. The contract is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025.

(Straubing) The facility will be built by the port of Straubing-Sand on an area of approximately 50,000 square meters. The construction phase has already begun, with completion and commissioning planned for the second quarter of 2025. In the future, up to ten trains per week are expected to operate at the new terminal. Mobile handling equipment will transfer transport goods, primarily containers, from road to rail, meaning they will be lifted. Up to twenty jobs are expected to be created at the site.

“The port of Straubing-Sand has been a pioneer in sustainability for many years due to its settlements and thematic focuses,” says Andreas Löffert, Managing Director of Hafen Straubing-Sand GmbH. “For us, the establishment of a terminal facility for combined transport was a logical consequence that aligns with our sustainability goals. Such combined transport facilities facilitate the shift of goods from road to rail, thus contributing to climate protection and relieving the highways.”

“The shift of containers from road to rail leads to an 80 percent reduction in transport-related CO₂ emissions,” says Markus Schmid, Managing Director of SFI GmbH. “We have many years of experience in combined transport, which is very environmentally friendly. The latest equipment is always used. In the future, trucks with alternative drives may also play a role in deliveries, meaning the last miles of the container from the combined transport facility to the loading and unloading points.”

The efficient and modern combined transport facility is expected to increase the attractiveness of the regions of Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate for further business settlements. In particular, logistics companies, as well as the manufacturing industry, appreciate the advantages of such facilities, according to the bidding consortium. In times of increasing driver shortages, combined transport facilities create greater reliability in transport while simultaneously reducing transport costs.

Highly Interesting for Rail Connections

“The location of the site at the port of Straubing-Sand is highly interesting for rail connections,” says Andreas Sandner, Managing Director of Ziegler Holding GmbH. “Goods produced abroad find their way to local stores via seaports. Our goal is to connect the region not only to the major seaports in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium but also to the Adriatic ports. This will provide more flexibility for the shipping economy.”

In times of driver shortages and disrupted supply chains, increased transport flexibility is becoming increasingly important. The Straubing-Sand site will also provide space for the storage of up to 1,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit / 20-foot containers). Adjacent areas can even expand the storage area. The possibility of interim storage of goods is significant, as seasonal goods are often delivered ahead of time. If the terminal’s capacities are insufficient, Contargo can support with its 24 facilities.

“With the new location, we are not only expanding our network in Bavaria, but we are also meeting customer demand for neutral container services in this region,” says Thomas Löffler, Managing Director of Contargo GmbH & Co. KG. “We already have several customer inquiries that we currently cannot fulfill. The location creates new jobs, capacities, and new opportunities from which the entire region will benefit.”

An Established Location in a Good Position

The port of Straubing-Sand is an established location where various logistics companies have settled in recent years due to its good position with connections to waterways, federal highways, and the rail network. The bio-based economy also finds good conditions at the port of Straubing-Sand, including a technology and startup center, a multi-purpose demonstration facility for industrial biotechnology, and non-university research institutions. A total of 3,600 people are employed in the companies located in the port.

Photo: © Contargo / Image Caption (l.r.n.): Gerhard Schönbucher, Head of Real Estate, Planning & Technology Hafen Straubing-Sand GmbH, Benedikt Rupp, Head of Network Expansion Contargo GmbH & Co.KG, Jörg Schubert, Managing Director Contargo Combitrac Straubing-Sand GmbH, Andreas Sandner, Managing Director Ziegler Holding GmbH, Markus Schmid, Managing Director SFI GmbH, Thomas Löffler, Managing Director Contargo GmbH & Co.KG, Andreas Löffert, Managing Director Hafen Straubing-Sand GmbH