Fresh on Track: Retailers and Shippers Embrace Rail for Fresh Logistics

Fresh on Track: Retailers and Shippers Embrace Rail for Fresh Logistics

Momentum builds at Fruit Attraction Madrid for modal shift in fresh supply chains. At Fruit Attraction 2025, the Fresh on Track initiative marked a breakthrough in sustainable logistics by uniting retailers, shippers and governments to accelerate the shift of fresh goods transport from road to rail. With rising pressure on road freight and growing demand for climate-smart logistics, the time for modal shift is now.

A scalable, more sustainable alternative for fresh transport

Fresh on Track is a public-private initiative connecting key fresh logistics hubs – Valencia, Rotterdam and Oslo – via a weekly temperature-controlled rail service, launching at the end of 2025. The pilot, known as Fresh Train, will offer fixed slots, customs facilitation, and door-to-door solutions through a collaborative model involving multiple logistics partners. This approach spreads operational risks and enables economies of scale.

“The pressure on road transport is simply too high – in terms of costs, congestion, and carbon,” said Eric Mekenkamp, from the Fresh on Track NL Initiative Group. “We need scalable, reliable rail alternatives that meet the demands of the fresh chain. This initiative proves it’s possible.”

Backed by governments and the market

The launch event featured contributions from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Province of South-Holland, the Spanish Ministry of Transport, and early supporters including Coop, Ahold Delhaize and Bakker Barendrecht (a Greenyard company). The Dutch Embassy in Madrid also voiced strong support, underlining the importance of cross-border collaboration for greener, smarter logistics in Europe.

Maarten van Hamburg, Managing Director Bakker Division: “Fresh on Track offers a smart, scalable addition to road freight. By reducing road congestion and emissions, it helps build a multimodal, futureproof fresh supply chain – a goal we proudly support at Bakker Barendrecht.”

Call to join: shippers and logistics providers welcome

The Fresh Train pilot is open to additional participants – especially those with northbound or southbound fresh flows between Spain and Scandinavia. Volume bundling, backhaul options and flexibility for both full and partial loads make this an accessible opportunity for a wide range of companies.

“Now is the time to get on board. Whether you’re moving citrus, berries, vegetables or flowers – if it’s fresh, we can help get it on track,” said Fred Lessing, FreshRail.

More information on the route, pricing, and partner opportunities is available at: http://www.freshontrack.eu/ or contact Eric Mekenkamp, Partner at BCI Global.

Published in Fresh on Track October 2025

For more information contact Eric Mekenkamp.