Splash247: HHLA puts remote-controlled rail cranes into operation in Hamburg

Published by Splash247

HHLA’s Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg has put the first remote-controlled rail gantry cranes into operation, marking a further step in the automation of Europe’s largest rail port.

A new Künz-manufactured rail gantry crane, delivered last year and designed for remote operation, has been commissioned alongside an existing crane retrofitted to allow both manual cabin control and remote operation. The remote-control system has been rolled out gradually since the start of 2026, with operators and technicians trained to use ergonomically designed workstations inside the terminal building.

The new crane spans more than 41 m in track width, covering nine railway tracks at CTA, with a total working width of around 90 m that also reaches preliminary queuing areas on both the waterside and landside. HHLA says the upgrade will lift efficiency and productivity in rail processing and reinforce Hamburg’s position as a leading rail gateway.

“They will make a significant contribution towards boosting efficiency and productivity in rail processing. We are thus strengthening the clear competitive advantage of the Port of Hamburg as the leading rail port in Europe,” said Jens Hansen, member of HHLA’s executive board.

Around half of all hinterland containers at Hamburg move by rail, with about 2.6m teu transported by train through the port in 2025, the majority via HHLA’s three container terminals, each equipped with its own rail terminal capable of handling block trains.

The high rail share in the modal split underlines rail’s importance for sustainable goods transport in and around Hamburg.

HHLA says it will consider further remote-operation optimisations in future projects as it continues to modernise its terminals and improve rail handling capacity.