Dutch specialist transport company Van der Vlist has introduced an intermodal rail service for oversized cargo using an in-house designed railway platform, the S-Bolster.
Engineered to carry equipment such as excavators, aerial platforms, agricultural machinery and campervans, the S-Bolster officially hit the tracks in July after a period of research and development.
It will be deployed on Van der Vlist’s service that operates from the Netherlands and Belgium to several terminals in Italy, with Germany and Scandinavia set to follow later this year.
The company said: “Thanks to daily train departures, transit times remain short and reliable. This first successful transport was completed in close cooperation with CargoBeamer, enabling smooth intermodal transitions and consistent scheduling.”
Van der Vlist added that the shift from road to rail reduces CO₂ emissions by 60–75 percent, while maintaining door-to-door delivery, CMR insurance coverage, and real-time GPS tracking via the Van der Vlist portal. “It’s a greener choice, without compromising on speed or cost,” the company said.
