Hannibal heads north

摘要

Speak to any port on the northern Mediterranean coastline, and it quickly becomes clear that their eyes are never far from the growth potential of Central Europe, including Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and southern Germany. The logic is simple. For ships passing through the Suez Canal, importers and exporters can save up to seven days transit time compared with using gateways in northern Europe, depending on the ocean carrier services deployed. This is nothing new, but what is changing is the improved reliability of Mediterranean ports, and the development of faster and more efficient crossborder railway services, which are combining to make the Mediterranean dream a modern-day reality. By most people's admission, there is still some way to go, but progress is now definitely being made. For example, due to the deregulation of the European Union's crossborder railway system last year, the market has become more open, and it is no longer necessary to change locomotives and drivers at border crossings. In brief, there is now more railway competition and choice.