St. Gallen, Switzerland: The Swiss InterRail Group has added temperature-controlled rail transport to its regular range of services this year after successfully carrying out its first reefer container transport between Asia and Europe in 2023.
InterRail uses diesel-powered 45-foot pallet wide reefer containers on the route between Europe and Asia, which can cool or heat independently of the infrastructure on different modes of transport. The refrigerated containers each hold up to 33 euro-pallets.
InterRail transported 13.5 tonnes of high-quality Swiss chocolate from the Basel region to Shanghai last summer. The reefer was operated at a set point of 12°C when outside temperatures were up to 42°C. It also transported miso ramen soups from Shanghai to Hamburg. The reefer container had a set point of 10 °C and a lowest outside temperature of -27 °C.
Stefaniea Klermund, business development manager at InterRail Holding, said: “Especially given the current situation in the Red Sea, our new product is an interesting option for certain sensitive/perishable goods that won’t stand the additional transit time caused by the alternative sea route via the Cape of Good Hope. In addition to the Europe – China route, we can also offer this service to and from Central Asia as well as within Europe.”
