NORFOLK SOUTHERN and the US-based intermodal specialist ContainerPort Group have set up a joint venture with Cemat of Italy, Swiss piggyback operator Hupac and Intercontainer-Interfrigo to provide seamless transport services between Europe and North America. The five have formed Trans Atlantic Rail Express (Tares), a marketing alliance which will combine existing intermodal and electronic data interchange networks into a comprehensive package.
Tares will concentrate on door-to-port and port-to-door movements of freight on both continents; trans-atlantic hauls will continue to be managed by the existing shipping companies. Customers will be offered a single point of contact on both continents providing them with electronic tracking of their goods.
In Europe, Tares partners may co-operate with affiliated intermodal companies. ContainerPort Group operates 22 terminals, providing short- and long-haul trucking, container depot and repair services and daily management of approximately 15000 containers. Cemat, Hupac and ICF jointly handle more than 3 million TEU annually. o
