Import Container API now supports growing rail sector

Rail-water intermodal transportation is generally recognized as one of the most efficient, economical and environmentally friendly future methods of transportation. To ensure that APM Terminals’ Import Availability API supports all modalities, it has added a number of data fields to provide better insights for rail planning, starting with APM Terminals Gothenburg.

The increasing switch to rail is already being witnessed at APM Terminals’ facilities around the world, with rail volume records being broken almost monthly. In November last year, APM Terminals Pipavav, India, handled a record 181 double stack trains in just one month, each carrying up to 180 containers. And this year APM Terminals Gothenburg is servicing ten rail shuttles per week more than last year, with total rail volumes of over 20,000 containers per month. 

Reduced emissions

The growth of rail is understandable when you consider that Gothenburg’s most recent shuttle connection to Piteå not only saves customer’s one week’s lead time compared to the traditional feeder solution from Sweden’s east coast, but also 87% in emissions.

"Security and sustainability are two keywords for our customers when choosing logistics solutions. This is why rail is a natural choice for many companies and we are seeing continued growth in volumes going forward," says Svante Altås, Sr. Sales Executive at APM Terminals Gothenburg.

Rail car positioning

APM Terminals Import Container API now specifies Container Modality for the onward journey (train or truck) and the train’s final destination. To support advanced planning, it is now also possible to see the position on the rail car and where the rail car is positioned in the train.