In June 2017, a test train was received in Ninove, which was attended by the Federal Minister for Mobility at the time, François Bellot, as well as his Flemish colleague, Ben Weyts. The project was aimed at taking 5,000 trucks off the road. However, it now appears that no structural connection was established after this first attempt. According to a recent written response by the current Federal Minister for Mobility, Georges Gilkinet, to a question from Ninove’s deputy and mayor, Tania De Jonge, there has only been a test run so far on the freight railway line at Ninove.
On the Delhaize side, the project has been discreetly abandoned. The company launched the project in 2017 as a pilot test, but they found that the cost of the transport was not proportional to the added value. According to Delhaize’s spokesman Roel Dekelver, rail transport proved to be more expensive than truck transport and less flexible. Despite the good intentions, it was not feasible from an economic and transport point of view.
The spokesperson notes that Delhaize is exploring other environmentally friendly delivery possibilities, such as the use of liquefied natural gas trucks or hybrid trucks. They are also testing electric trucks transporting fruit and vegetables from Bakker Belgium, a part of Greenyard, to Delhaize’s distribution center in Zellik.
A test train was received in Ninove in June 2017 by, among others, the Federal Minister for Mobility (at the time François Bellot) and his Flemish colleague (Ben Weyts). “The beer train is a shining example of combined mobility, taking 5,000 trucks off the road,” said Ben Weyts.
It now appears that no structural connection emerged after this first attempt. The current Federal Minister for Mobility, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), recently answered a written question from the deputy and mayor of Ninove Tania De Jonge (Open Vld): “For the moment, there has only been a test run” on the freight railway line at Ninove.
” More expensive ”
On the Delhaize side, it is confirmed that the project has been discreetly buried. “It had been launched in 2017 as a pilot project, but we had to conclude after tests and analyzes that the cost of transport was not proportional to the added value,” said spokesman Roel Dekelver. Rail transport proved to be more expensive than truck transport, and it was also less flexible.
“It was a good idea”, he adds, “but despite the good intentions, it turned out that it was not feasible from an economic and transport point of view. »
The spokesperson points out that Delhaize is studying several other possibilities for more environmentally friendly delivery, such as the use of liquefied natural gas trucks or hybrid trucks. A test is also underway with electric trucks transporting fruit and vegetables from Bakker Belgium (part of Greenyard) in Boom to Delhaize’s distribution center in Zellik.
While the beer train project may not have been successful in terms of cost and feasibility, it was still a notable effort towards more sustainable transportation. Delhaize has not given up on finding ways to reduce its environmental impact and is exploring other options such as LNG trucks, hybrid trucks, and electric trucks. It’s important that companies continue to prioritize sustainable practices, and this setback serves as a reminder that not every idea is a feasible solution. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep striving towards a greener future.