Alpacem, InterCal, and Innofreight are pushing ahead with the construction of an intermodal terminal in Peggau. On Friday, November 21, the starting signal was given for the first stage of redevelopment of the existing industrial site. Together with the Koralmbahn railway and the Semmering Base Tunnel, this opens up great opportunities for the Styrian economy.
The history of today’s Alpacem and InterCal plant in Peggau dates back to 1893, and now the future is being built there. The two companies are implementing the overall Terminal Peggau project here together with Innofreight. The official launch took place today in the presence of Governor Mario Kunasek and Styrian Transport Minister Claudia Holzer. Together, the three companies are pursuing the goal of securing and further developing the location—and thus the jobs based there—with a multifunctional terminal.
An existing and currently unused 2.7-hectare industrial site is being converted into a high-performance logistics hub for rail freight transport. The first step will be taken at the beginning of next year with the demolition of the existing buildings to make room for the terminal to be built. The conditions could hardly be better: the rail connection along the southern railway line, the existing connection to the S35 in the north, ample storage space, and the further development of disused areas give this site great potential. “We are pursuing the idea of a comprehensive solution for Alpacem and InterCal to connect several locations with each other. Within a short period of time, two family-owned companies have come together to realize this project. We are a really good fit and can also offer added value for the entire region and other companies,” said Innofreight owner Peter Wanek-Pusset.
Ideal conditions for the new terminal
Alpacem and InterCal will both benefit equally from the development of this area. InterCal will be able to expand its radius of action with the planned rail terminal and will also be able to have more raw materials delivered by rail in the future. Since spring 2025, InterCal and Innofreight have been working closely together to transport quicklime from Peggau to Košice in Slovakia using the MonTainer XXLL WSF. The InterCal product is transported the first few meters by truck on the factory premises before being loaded onto the rail for intermodal transport. Alpacem will use the terminal to handle its already established rail raw materials logistics even more efficiently. The location also creates new opportunities to further optimize the flow of quantities between Alpacem locations, but also to establish low-CO2 logistics solutions for customers.
The entire Upper Styrian economic area will benefit from the terminal in Peggau, as will neighboring companies in the north of Graz, which also need a connection to the rail network for additional growth and will find the necessary infrastructure in Peggau. In order to shift more and more traffic and goods from road to rail in the coming years, the terminal will be gradually developed in the following years. The Koralmbahn railway is proving to be a decisive factor in this regard: Innofreight’s technology will help numerous companies gain access to the rail network and reap the immediate benefits of the billion-euro expansion of this line.