Port of Antwerp-Bruges Announces Three New Connections

BLCC member Port of Antwerp-Bruges has strengthened its position as a leading European logistics hub with the launch of three new rail connections. The services link Antwerp to Frenkendorf and Widnau (Switzerland), Zeebrugge to Mannheim (Germany), and Antwerp to Chengdu (China), further expanding sustainable transport options for European and international trade.

Antwerp - Frenkendorf and Widnau (Switzerland)
Since August 2025, Swiss rail operator Schweizerzug has been running the Widnau Express, connecting Antwerp Gateway to Frenkendorf three times a week, and from there to Widnau twice weekly. These services link directly into existing routes to Rotterdam and Genoa, creating faster, greener connections between the Swiss Rhine Valley and major European seaports.

Zeebrugge - Mannheim (Germany)
At the end of August, COSCO Shipping Lines introduced a direct rail service between the CSP Zeebrugge Terminal and Mannheim. Operating two to three times weekly, the service offers fast transit (around 13 hours) with capacity for 80 TEU per train. From Mannheim, freight is distributed across Southwest Germany’s key industrial centres, helping reduce reliance on road transport and strengthening multimodal supply chains.

Antwerp – Chengdu (China)
On 27 August, the first direct freight train from Chengdu’s Qingbaijiang Railway Terminal arrived at Antwerp. The service, developed in partnership with Silk Road Leader, CDIRS, and DPD of La Poste France, is expected to operate weekly and open new links from Europe to Barcelona and North Africa via onward multimodal transport. This development reinforces Antwerp’s role as a vital gateway between Europe and China.

These new connections not only enhance global trade links but also reinforce Belgium’s position on the international stage, boosting the efficiency and capacity of its ports, supporting local jobs, and cementing the country’s role as a central hub for European and global commerce.

With these developments, Port of Antwerp-Bruges continues to expand its international reach and support sustainable logistics, cementing Belgium’s role at the heart of global trade.