DFDS enters railway services and intermodal transport via acquisition of logistics firm Primerail.
DFDS buys into German logistics by acquiring railway company Primerail. | Photo: PR/ DFDS
DFDS buys into German logistics by acquiring rail operator Primerail, thus marking DFDS’ debut within railway transportation.
According to a press release, DFDS has had a partership with Primerail since 2020, when the two companies established Intermodal Transport Competence Center in Cologne, Germany.
Primerail was founded in 2019 as a logistics firm specialized in intermodal transport on railway and road, and the acquisition allows DFDS inclusion of rail transportation to its services.
”For DFDS, this is an important strategic step. We have been looking for the right partners with the same value set and commercial orientation as DFDS. Primerail fulfills this, and it is, therefore, a perfect match. We connect our ports by rail to inland terminals,” states Executive Vice President and Head of Ferry Division at DFDS Peder Gellert Pedersen in the announcement.
Primerail will be integrated into a new business area, Rail, which furthermore will include DFDS’ existing intermodal transportation business and will be organized under the carrier’s Mediterranean business unit.
”Since we acquired our Turkish route network in mid-2018, we have learned how much value train solutions can add to our business model and network. We extend our network, and with the increasing focus on green solutions, it’s a natural step to develop our train set-up further,” says DFDS Head of Mediterranean Lars Hoffmann.
Hoffmann highlights that DFDS has doubled its weekly number of departures by railway since 2018, and the carrier sees growing demand for rail transport in combination with ferry transport and logistics services.
DFDS does not reveal the acquisition price. Primerail is headquartered in Troisdorf, near Cologne.
DFDS will present its Q1 figures Wednesday.
