Freight Hubs of Europe

[59CosG95]

Hi all, apologies if this is a thread which already exists, but I wanted to know where's the best for freight in Europe: currently considering France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands for a trip not long after the New Year. Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks very much,
Cosmo

 

[Harbornite]

I haven't been there myself but there's Hamburg Harburg bahnhof, which is one of the closest stations to Hamburgh Maschen: Europe's largest marshalling yard. You could also try the Berlin Aussenring and the railway lines along the Rhine and in the Ruhr area.

One of the places in Poland that springs to mind is Poznan Franowo yard, there's also Gdansk and I think anywhere on the Berlin- Warsaw mainline is quite good.

 

[Groningen]

In the Netherlands it almost it is almost only Kijfhoek (between Barendrecht and Rotterdam Lombardijen). Venlo is also not bad. In Germany a main one is Maschen (between Hamburg and Hannover). Further i am not interested in freight.

 

[Gordon]

Hi all, apologies if this is a thread which already exists, but I wanted to know where's the best for freight in Europe: currently considering France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands for a trip not long after the New Year. Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks very much,
Cosmo

In Germany, Hamburg Harburg is a well know busy spot, plus the Hannover area is a rich source of constant freight flow with several hotspot locations near yards. Also anywhere on the Rhine gorge routes or the north - south route Hannover - Bebra - Würzburg.

Possibly the biggest European hub is Muttenz yards in Basel, Switzerland, where German, Swiss, French and pan-European leased traction all comes together. On the approaches to Muttenz there is often a freight about every 10 minutes throughout the day.

I hate to say this having grown up with French railways, but France is a poor place for freight these days.


.

 

[TRAX]

One of the major freight terminals in France is at Valenton (mainly used by Euro Cargo Rail who run Class 66s among other stock) in the southeastern suburbs of Paris. You'll find quite a lot of freight traffic on the Grande Ceinture line and in some areas around that circle, but to complete Gordon's comment about french railfreight, "a lot" in my words is by french standards. So it actually means "not much".

 

[sarahj]

If you want to enjoy freight on the move, just visit the Rhein. Somewhere like Ruddesheim, where hotels and bars look right out onto the railway line. Plus other touristy things, so you have not just spent your time standing on a cold platform watching trains.

This is a decent hotel. Right on the front (and does a good breakfast)

http://www.hotel-traube-ruedesheim.de/

 

[furnessvale]

If you want to enjoy freight on the move, just visit the Rhein. Somewhere like Ruddesheim, where hotels and bars look right out onto the railway line. Plus other touristy things, so you have not just spent your time standing on a cold platform watching trains.

This is a decent hotel. Right on the front (and does a good breakfast)

http://www.hotel-traube-ruedesheim.de/

A good idea, but I prefer one of the smaller locations, deeper in the Rhine Gorge, where trains on both banks can bee seen at close quarters.

 

[duesselmartin]

Near Rüdesheim there is the Mainz- Bischofsheim yard.
Neuss is also interesting with Aluminum trains fir Britain departing regulary. Cologne has two large yards. Gremberg and Eifeltor. At Duisburg one can observe interchange between barge and trains.

 

[Gordon]

Hi all, apologies if this is a thread which already exists,
Cosmo

Similar ones, yes

Here is one of them:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=119146&referrerid=9106

 

[sarahj]

Slightly off topic, but an interesting website and a nice video for those freight fans:

http://www.railcargo.nl/railgoederenvervoer/intermodaal_vervoer

 

[Harbornite]

Slightly off topic, but an interesting website and a nice video for those freight fans:

http://www.railcargo.nl/railgoederenvervoer/intermodaal_vervoer

Good vid that, thanks for sharing.