TRIESTE – Metrans, the intermodal operator controlled by Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), is strengthening its presence in south-eastern Europe with the acquisition of a 50% stake in the Afluent Arad South intermodal terminal, marking its direct entry into the Romanian market and expanding its continental logistics network.
The transaction, still subject to the usual regulatory approvals, represents a strategic step for integrating Romania into the European rail corridors operated by Metrans. The terminal is located in Arad, in the western part of the country, in a particularly favourable position near the Hungarian border and along key routes linking central Europe with the Balkans and the Black Sea area.
At present, the facility covers around 3.5 hectares, with a storage capacity of about 750 TEU, but offers significant expansion potential to more than 80 hectares. This room for development is one of the factors that made the investment especially attractive for the group, which aims to turn Arad into a significant node in its network, as Metrans explains.
Once the acquisition is completed, Metrans plans to launch regular rail connections, initially with up to three round trips per week between Budapest and Arad, progressively integrating the terminal into its intermodal services. The aim is to offer direct and increasingly structured links between Romania and the main North European ports, such as Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven and Rotterdam, as well as Adriatic ports.
