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The initial stage of the modernisation of the Ostrava-Paskov independent open terminal for intermodal transport has been completed. The invested sum of CZK 30 million, committed to this stage of the terminal overhaul by transport and logistics group AWT, saw the laying of new rail tracks at the terminal's transshipment point, the construction of a level crossing and the stabilisation of cargo handling surfaces, including the laying of an interlocking paved surface. In total, the AWT Group has invested in excess of CZK 110 million in its terminal.

The ribbon was cut on the new paved surface of the cargo handling area of the Ostrava-Paskov terminal by Bohumil Bonczek, Chief Technical Officer of the AWT Group, and Martin Cetl, Director of the Forwarding and Logistics Business Line of the AWT Group, in the presence of business partners and customers as well as representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, the Confederation of Industry, the Transport Union, and local municipalities. The opening of the completed stage was in reality simply a symbolic affair, as the reconstruction emerged under full operational conditions at the terminal.

“The Ostrava-Paskov terminal is one of only a few open transshipment points in the country and thanks to its highly strategicsaid Bohumil Bonczek in a speech at the opening ceremony.

The first stage of the Ostrava-Paskov terminal’s modernisation took approximately three months to realise. During that time, the marshalling track was extended, with the inclusion of a refurbishment of the points ladder, two brand new tracks extending to nearly three hundred metres were laid, a level crossing was constructed, the surface was drained and a sewerage system was put in place. Additionally, one third of the cargo handling surface, i.e. 10,000 square metres, was stabilised. Part of the stabilised surface was also covered with interlocking paving.

The finalisation of this stage of the reconstruction increases the terminal's capacity from 1,400 TEU [twenty-foot equivalent units] to 1,700 TEU. The time required to handle one container train will be reduced from the current one and half hours to a mere 20 minutes. For 2012, the AWT Group plans to stabilise the remaining surfaces, i.e. another 21,000 sqm, further increasing the storage capacity to 2,400 TEU. Also expected is an increase in the workforce, from the current 18 workers to as many as 30. When the terminal opened in 2007, it began operations with just two people. In order to cope with the demands of the reconstruction tasks while maintaining operations, another relief transshipment point was opened in nearby Staříč. This facility will remain in operation even after the completion of works at Ostrava-Paskov

“The Ostrava-Paskov terminal was built on a brownfield site. It was therefore a solution for  a disused industrial facility. We intend to continue with this approach. If we had not built a transshipment facility here, there would still be derelict, unsightly buildings at the site. Also of great importance is that by extending our services we can offer more jobs to people, and what’s more, do this in a region suffering from unemployment,” Bohumil Bonczek added.

The AWT Group found itself unable to utilise an originally assumed subsidy from European funds, since the necessary funding programmes were not opened in time. “With respect to our customers, we could not have waited any longer on the administration. However, we trust that we will be able to use EU funding in subsequent stages of the modernisation,” explained Martin Cetl.

The terminal operates four reachstackers of the Kalmar and Hyster models, which can handle cargoes weighing up to 45 tonnes. The marshalling yard comprises nine siding tracks, serviced 24 hours a day by two locomotives. In addition to transshipping, the collection and distribution of containers, trailers and swap bodies, the Ostrava-Paskov terminal also offers customs clearance for complete trains as well as single consignments. The terminal is located near a motorway, is close to the Slovak and Polish borders, and is connected to the nationwide railway network. Industrial zones in Ostrava-Hrabová, Nošovice, Mošnov, Český Těšín and Třinec are less than 50 kilometres away. The terminal also offers connections to major European ports: Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Koper in Slovenia and Polish seaports.

In 2011, the number of containers handled at the terminal will exceed 40,000, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 100 percent. Had it not been for the terminal, a similar number of trucks would have had to use the Czech motorways and highways. Despite public proclamations, actual state support for intermodal transport is lacking. “The increase in fees for the use of railways, effective from 2012, is a significant blow to the competitiveness of the national railway system. Moreover, the measure was announced at the very last moment and we had no inkling it was about to happen, particularly in a situation in which all the neighbouring countries are charging lower fees,” Martin Cetl added.