DP World has completed its first shipment of finished vehicles from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Aiud, Romania, launching a new rail corridor designed to strengthen automotive logistics connections between Western and Southeastern Europe.
The initial shipment, destined for Chisinau, Moldova, marks DP World’s first end-to-end vehicle rail operation in Europe. Following arrival at the Aiud multimodal logistics terminal, the vehicles will continue by road to their final destination.
DP World plans to develop Aiud as a regional distribution hub for finished vehicles serving Romania and neighbouring markets. The company intends to introduce a regular rail service with twice-monthly operations from the second half of 2026, while also exploring connections between Aiud and other European ports, including Koper in Slovenia.
The new service forms part of DP World’s strategy to expand multimodal transport solutions that combine rail and road freight to improve supply chain efficiency. According to the company, shifting long-distance vehicle movements from road to rail can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 55% compared with equivalent long-haul road transport.
Opened in 2024 following a €21 million investment, the Aiud multimodal logistics terminal covers 180,000 square metres and is strategically located alongside the A10 motorway with direct access to Romania’s national rail network.
The facility provides container handling, cargo storage, customs services and freight forwarding, enabling it to support a wide range of supply chain requirements.
The new Zeebrugge-Aiud connection strengthens the terminal’s role as a regional logistics hub while providing automotive manufacturers and logistics operators with an alternative multimodal route for moving finished vehicles across European markets.
