With the acquisition of German railway operator primeRail by DFDS, DFDS and primeRail signed a contract that will allow them to continue their activities as a single company as of today.
Strengthening DFDS' rail solutions, this merger is testament to DFDS's ambition to find sustainable ways to continue to provide reliable and valuable services. This merger means the launch of new Railway activities within DFDS.
Established in 2019, primeRail operates in land and sea logistics concepts by combining rail and road transport. In 2020, DFDS established a new “Intermodal Transport Competence Center” in Cologne in cooperation with primeRail to provide intermodal transport solutions to its customers.
DFDS's acquisition of primeRail is an important step towards achieving our ambitious goals in intermodal transport by combining ferry and rail transport.
Peder Gellert Pedersen, DFDS Executive Vice President and Head of the Ferries Department, said:
“This is an important strategic step for DFDS. We are looking for the right partners with the same values and business approach as DFDS, and primeRail is the perfect partner who meets these requirements. We connect our ports to land terminals by rail. Thus, we offer a smooth and environmentally friendly transportation network to the service of our customers and society.”
NEW DFDS RAILWAY BUSINESS UNIT TO BE ESTABLISHED
PrimeRail will be established within DFDS as a new business area covering primeRail company and DFDS's intermodal transportation activities. The rail business will operate under the Mediterranean Business Unit, headed by Patrick Zilles, primeRail's current CEO.
Patrick Zilles, DFDS Vice President and Head of Railways, who will report to Lars Hoffmann, Head of DFDS Mediterranean Business Unit, said:
“Since mid-2018, when we acquired our Turkey network, we have learned how much value our train solutions can add to our business model and network. It was an expected development to expand our railway unit while expanding our transport network with a greater focus on green solutions. Since 2018 we have doubled our weekly train service and therefore we had to take the next step. Together with our ferry services and logistics services, we see that the demand for rail transport is increasing. Our cooperation with primeRail enables us to benefit from more intermodal solutions. Customers can leave their goods at our terminals in Turkey and receive them in Europe very close to their destination.”
Patrick Zilles, Founder and CEO of PrimeRail, said: “Following our successful collaboration with DFDS, I am delighted to see that primeRail will now be an important part of one of Europe's leading ferry networks. As part of DFDS, PrimeRail will take mobility to the top with cost-effective and innovative intermodal transportation solutions.”
PrimeRail's acquisition of DFDS is planned to be completed within one year.
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