Retrack, a European research project, has launched a weekly rail freight service between Cologne, Germany, and Györ, Hungary, carrying automotive products, agri-bulk and chemicals. Transpetrol, a leading provider of rail logistics services and member of the VTG Group, is the operator of the weekly Retrack train. Two other partners, LTE Logistik und Transport and Central European Railway provide the traction services. An interoperable multipurpose locomotive avoids unnecessary loco changes at the border stations, thus ensuring a seamless and fast service.

The train departs on Wednesday afternoon from Cologne and arrives 21 hours later in Györ, returning on Friday. The business model integrates the specific logistic requirements for transport of cars, grain and chemicals into a service concept. The business model has been developed and will be demonstrated in the frame of Retrack, a European research project on the demonstration of innovative rail freight concepts. Retrack is being coordinated by TNO, the Dutch Institute for Applied Scientific Research and co-funded by the European Commission.

Consortium
Retrack consortium includes the following organisations: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO; University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Deltarail; Transportokonomisk Institutt; TCI Roehling - Transport Consulting International; Cer Central-European Railway Transport, Trading and Service Co.; SOPTIM; LTE Logistik -und-Transport; Transpetrol; and SC Servtrans Invest.