From 9 August, probably until 30 August 2024, the line between Rastatt/Baden-Baden and Weil am Rhein/Basel will be closed for comprehensive modernisation work. This will have massive impacts on goods transport.
In order to maintain our transport connections, the trains of our Basel Westport Shuttle (BWS) will be diverted through France. This diversion involves additional resources, slightly longer transit times and higher track usage charges. Due to the limited availability of the lines, only 3 departures per week (import and export departures) will be possible during the closure.
Thus we are forced to increase our present infrastructure surcharge (EUR 8 / TEU at present) during the above-mentioned period. The surcharge will be charged both for import and export containers to the following amount:
Infrastructure Rail Surcharge IRS during the diversion phase from 9.8.2024, probably until 30.8.2024 (incl. present IRS of 8 EUR/ TEU): 46 EUR / TEU
Please note that during the line closure no trains will run to/from Basel Kleinhüningen Port. All bookings that need to go to Basel Kleinhüningen Port will be transported by barge during this time.
For the duration of the Rhine Valley rail line closure, please allow for an overall import transit time (ex seaport terminal) of:
- Antwerp – Basel Bad. UBF / Weil UBF: approx. 8-9 days
- Rotterdam – Basel Bad. UBF / Weil UBF: approx. 6-7 days
For the duration of the Rhine Valley rail line closure, please allow for an overall Export transit time (directly to the seaport terminals) of:
- Basel Bad. UBF / Weil UBF – Antwerp: approx. 5 days
- Basel Bad. UBF / Weil UBF – Rotterdam: approx. 5-7 days
We regret that during the line closure, train arrivals may be delayed. Understandably we cannot accept any liability for costs incurred by delayed acceptance of containers (demurrage and/or detention) or for late delivery of export containers.
From CW 32 we will charter additional barges which will operate in addition to our scheduled barge transports on the Rotterdam–Basel/Weil am Rhein connection, in order to provide additional transport capacities for our customers.