Bundle, combine, accelerate

What is now considered to be a clever solution to congested roads and achieving climate targets originally began in Bremen: the idea of systematically bundling modes of transport – and thus efficiently linking roads, rail and warehouse logistics. That is how freight villages (GVZ) came about, which have been established throughout the whole of Europe since the 1970s. They not only accelerate the flow of goods and provide relief in city centres but are also growing more important in the face of increasing transport.

Established 40 years ago, GVZ Bremen is the oldest freight village in Germany, and it measures just under 500 hectares in size, making it the largest of its kind and placing it at the top of European freight village ranking. Due to its ideal location in the North Range ports, it provides the approximately 160 logistics companies based here with a direct link to the twin ports in Bremerhaven and Bremen as well as the seaports in Wilhelmshaven and Hamburg.

Another benefit is Roland Umschlag’s intermodal terminal, which forms the heart of the freight village. The Bremen region has access to daily container traffic of around 2,000 block train runs per year to the three German seaports Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven and Hamburg. Additional connections to stations in the German hinterland and to Austria and Italy – including for semi-trailers and swap bodies – complete the service.

Additional space required

Limited fluctuation and high demand pose a challenge. “There’s not much space left but we see potential in revitalisation – through redevelopment of brownfields once the first systems have been decommissioned,” explains Ralph Sandstedt, Managing Director of GVZ Entwicklungsgesellschaft in Bremen. He also sees further opportunities for future expansion in the Niedervieland III area. For example, 100 hectares along the A 281 motorway would be welcome.

The Weser tunnel along the A 281 motorway should be completed by 2029/2030 and is key to providing traffic access to these new commercial spaces. As an important ring closure in western Bremen, the tunnel will connect the A 1 in the south with the A 27 in the north. “Even if takes another few years, we’ll be glad to have a direct connection from the freight village to the international trunk road network,” says Sandstedt. Moreover, important conditions are being created to streamline management of heavy-load transport, offer relief for residential areas and reinforce Bremen’s logistics competitiveness.

After all, the completed A 281 will pass directly through the industrial port, where additional spaces will be developed for combined transport (CT). “There’s no need to reinvent the world and continuously expand destinations for intermodal freight transport. It’s more about optimising the port connection schedule and expanding hinterland routes for the best possible distribution,” explains Sandstedt.

The freight village is also in the process of preparing for the future. For example, it is increasing its use of the enormous amounts of photovoltaic energy already generated with the systems on the hall roofs, electrifying the vehicle fleet and expanding the charging infrastructure at GVZ Bremen. The AUTOGVZ lighthouse project launched in January 2025 focuses on fully automated HGV shuttle transport along a route approximately three kilometres in length between Roland Umschlag’s intermodal terminal and two logistics centres at GVZ Bremen.