The private rail service company boxXpress, which specialises in container transport, will be even more environmentally friendly in the future. Beginning January 2021, the company will exclusively use “TüStrom Bahn Natur,” electricity generated 100 percent from hydropower. With this commitment, the three shareholders of boxXpress, Eurogate Intermodal GmbH (EGIM), ERS Railways GmbH and TX Logistik AG, are further strengthening their sustainable, environmentally friendly rail strategy.

boxXpress operates with clean energy
boxXpress operates with clean energy

The container trains powered by green electricity will connect the seaports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam with important domestic economic centres. The Hamburg railway company purchases “TüStrom Bahn Natur” electricity from the Tuebingen public utility company. This 100 percent renewable hydropower is recognised by TÜV Nord as “Certified Green Electricity.” Neither climate-damaging CO2 nor radioactive waste is produced during the electricity’s generation. As a result, boxXpress achieves its goal of significantly reducing environmentally harmful emissions.

Despite unique market challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, boxXpress continues to make progress on its commitment to offering sustainable, future-oriented rail products. In turn, the three shareholders can realise their ambitious climate plans and are not thrown off course by the coronavirus crisis.

To minimise energy consumption during transport, the company exclusively uses modern Vectron locomotives. Moreover, the locomotives even generate electricity themselves by partially recovering energy released during breaking and converting it into electrical power. In combination with innovation software and trained locomotive drivers, the energy recovery rate so far has been approximately 15 percent during 2020.

A modern fleet primarily composed of 4-axle 80ft wagons ensures that capacity is optimised. The units are equipped with whisper breaks or disc brakes that minimise noise pollution and surpass the current standards of the freight transport industry.

Stefan Marx, managing director at boxXpress, says: “With this conversion, we are offering the market solutions that further minimise the impacts of transport on the environment. Rail freight will play an important role in achieving European climate targets. We are therefore looking to further expand boxXpress’s environmentally friendly intermodal system. Our long-term goal is to offer a completely CO2-neutral service.”