Vertical: Rail
Application:
Ecosystem: Huawei, Vodafone
Private Network: 5G
The East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Terminal, located in Fényeslitke, Hungary, near the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, opened its doors as Europe’s largest and most advanced smart railway logistics terminal. The facility, which spans 85 hectares and is the result of a HUF 30 billion private investment by East-West Intermodal Logistics Services Plc., is set to revolutionize rail freight between Asia and Europe.
EWG is the first terminal in Europe to use its own private 5G network for internal communications and the operation of technological devices. Implemented by Vodafone Hungary and Huawei Technologies Hungary, the 5G network enables real-time remote control of the terminal’s fully automated overhead cranes.
With the ability to handle up to one million TEU per year, EWG is the largest intermodal terminal on the continent in terms of both capacity and area.
The terminal utilizes green technology, with its energy supply based on a high-performance solar farm and a heat pump system. Additionally, only electric terminal tractors and cars are used on the premises.
Cutting-edge crane technology: EWG boasts a 41-meter wide crane, two 28-meter wide cranes on rails, and a 20-meter high rubber-tired crane (RTG). These cranes, supplied by Austrian company Künz, are equipped with 20 high-resolution cameras, allowing for real-time viewing and remote operation through the 5G network.
Colin Cai, CEO of Huawei Technologies Hungary said: “The private 5G networks of our company make digitalization of completely new branches of industry possible. Huawei has already built many similar systems in China. In Europe, however, this is the first container terminal where a self-driving, remote-controlled solution, which is implemented by means of the 5G technology, will be used.”
The opening of the EWG Intermodal Terminal marks a significant milestone in Hungary’s efforts to become a key player in continental freight traffic between Asia and Europe. The project has received support from both the Hungarian government and private sector partners, with Dr. Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy, and Dr. Károly Balázs Solymár, Deputy State Secretary for Digitalization, attending the signing ceremony for the 5G network implementation.
János Tálosi, CEO of East-West Intermodal Logistics Services Plc., said, “The construction of East-West Gate will put Hungary on the map of international rail logistics again. The country will be given a new possibility to take an active part in rail freight between Asia and Europe.”
