CMA CGM to turn Thessaloniki into maritime hub for Serbia
French shipping company CMA CGM is preparing to extend its European network of intermodal services. In mid-August 2022, it will launch a new container train from the Port of Thessaloniki in Greece to Niš, the third-largest city in Serbia. Being combined with several maritime lines, the intermodal connection will contribute to transforming Thessaloniki into a true maritime gateway for Serbia.
Starting from 11 August 2022, CMA CGM will offer a new block-train shuttle on the Thessaloniki – Niš – Thessaloniki route. It will have a capacity of 50 TEU per shipment. The new intermodal service will provide a reliable transit time of 2.5 days between Greece and Serbia. The container train will run once a week, on Thursdays from Thessaloniki and on Mondays from Niš.
According to CMA CGM, the Thessaloniki – Niš – Thessaloniki intermodal service will have two major advantages. The first one is its correlation with eight maritime routes including those from China, South Korea, India, the Middle East, East Mediterranean as well as North America. “Niš, Serbia is reached from Shanghai in 40 days and from Izmir in 7 days. Export cargo from Niš is bound for Shanghai in 47 days, Mundra 37 days, Damietta 6 days,” CMA CGM noted. The second advantage is the twofold reduction of the carbon footprint when moving boxes from Thessaloniki to Niš by rail compared to road transport.