Wood chips from the Norwegian timber corporation Bergene Holm in Amundrød near Larvik will be transported by rail to Norske Skog’s mill in Halden, replacing traditional truck transportation. Source: Timberbiz
With one freight train holding cargo equivalent to 30 trucks, one train departure per week can replace hundreds of trucks on the Larvik – Oslo – Halden route. By replacing the transportation methods for woodchips and timber, Norske Skog is able to reduce emissions like exhaust, particulate matter and microplastics as well as contributing to road safety.
“The implementation of the green transition in European industry and the fulfillment of emission obligations in the Glasgow Agreement will require that our inbound and outbound transportation is done with emission-free transport solutions.
Norske Skog Saugbrugs is now leading by example. From today, all long-haul transport of timber and wood chips to the Halden factory will be by rail. The switch from road to rail will reduce the total number of cargo trucks on the roads to and from Saugbrugs by 7,500 per year,” says Finn Arne Bjørnstad, Supply Manager Timber at Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden.
During the autumn of 2020, Bergene Holm, Norske Skog and the logistics firm Greencarrier approached Larvik Port with a request to use the siding and terminal area at Larvik Port for the transportation of timber and wood chips to and from Larvik. This area had not been in use since 2012. In 2018 Vestfold County municipality and rail operator Bane NOR invested a total of NOK 18.6million to make the track operational.
Greencarrier manages the logistics of loading and unloading the cargo inside the terminal area.
