DFDS goes Prime and Rail
The Danish shipping company DFDS is taking over 100% of the intermodal operator Prime Rail and establishing its new rail business unit on this basis. Prime Rail, headquartered in Troisdorf near Cologne (Germany), offers intermodal transport in continental and maritime railfreight. Founded in 2019, the company has been developing a close cooperation with DFDS since 2020 and has been acting as the "Intermodal Transport Competence Centre Cologne" for the Danish logistics provider ever since.
The big goal is to be able to offer integrated ferry and rail transport, as Peder Gellert Pedersen, executive vice president and head of the ferry division, explained: "This is a big strategic step for DFDS. Prime Rail is a perfect match for us as we connect our ports to inland terminals by rail."
The new rail business unit will be added to DFDS' Mediterranean business unit and will comprise the company's new as well as existing intermodal businesses. The new unit will be led by Patrick Zilles, founder and CEO of Prime Rail, who will report as vice president and head of rail to Lars Hoffmann, head of the Mediterranean business init.
Hoffmann said: "Since we acquired our Turkish network in 2018, we have learned how much added value rail transport solutions bring to our business model and our network. Step by step, we have been able to expand our hinterland network by rail as a sustainable transport offering. We have doubled our weekly train departures since then and continue to see an increased demand for environmentally friendly transport in connection with our ferry lines. With Prime Rail, we automatically provide a significantly enhanced intermodal offering for our customers." (cd)