DP World has completed its first end-to-end managed vehicle shipment from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Aiud, Romania, establishing a new rail and road corridor designed to distribute finished vehicles across Southeastern Europe.
The initial shipment, routed through the Aiud hub for onward road delivery to Chisinau, Moldova, marks DP World’s first fully integrated finished vehicle rail operation in Europe.
Hub Development and Operational Scaling
DP World plans to establish its €21 million, 180,000 m² Aiud multimodal terminal—opened in 2024—as a regional automotive distribution node.
Key operational parameters and expansion plans include:
- Service Frequency: Phasing in regular rail operations with twice-monthly service loops during the second half of 2026.
- Port Connectivity: Expanding intermodal rail links to connect Aiud with other major European maritime gateways, including Koper, Slovenia.
- Terminal Infrastructure: Adjacent to Romania’s A10 motorway and linked directly to the national rail network, the site offers container handling, vehicle storage, customs clearance, and freight forwarding capabilities.
Environmental and Regulatory Advantages
The intermodal shift reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 55% compared to long-haul road transport. Moving finished vehicles via rail also mitigates exposure to volatile road usage fees and shifting European road transport regulations while reducing cross-border border administration delays.
Executive Commentary
Dragos Calin, Director Freight, Balkans at DP World, noted that combining rail and road under a single contract provides automotive manufacturers with lower emissions and scalable transport reliability.
Svitlana Balaban, CEO of DP World Romania, added that developing the Aiud terminal reinforces DP World’s strategy to expand connected logistics corridors linking Western European ports to markets across Southeastern Europe.
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