CargoBeamer Launches 4 Weekly Trips Stuttgart-Milan

STUTTGART, GERMANY – Intermodal operator CargoBeamer initiated a new rail freight route between Stuttgart and Milan this week, running four weekly round trips through the Swiss Alps. The service, which began Monday, connects the DUSS terminal in Kornwestheim with the Malpensa Intermodale terminal. This new link replaces a previous CargoBeamer service to Domodossola and expands the company’s unaccompanied transport network on the critical Germany-Italy freight corridor.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The new service establishes a direct rail connection for semi-trailers between the industrial region of southwestern Germany and the major logistics hub of Milan. The route will initially operate with four round trips per week, with plans to increase the frequency to five in the medium term. Rail traction through the Alps is provided by SBB Cargo International, a specialist on this corridor. A key feature of the service is its ability to transport all types of semi-trailers, including non-craneable units such as refrigerated and box trailers, using CargoBeamer’s proprietary handling technology.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

This service is part of a broader industry shift to fill the capacity void left by the closure of the Rolling Highway (RoLa) service between Freiburg, Germany, and Novara, Italy, at the end of 2023. That service, operated by RAlpin, transported entire trucks and drivers and was discontinued following the reduction of Swiss federal subsidies. CargoBeamer’s new route, along with its Liège–Domodossola service launched in January, directly targets this displaced freight volume with a more efficient, unaccompanied model that transports only the semi-trailers. While the former RoLa service had a capacity for approximately 210,000 trucks annually, unaccompanied services like CargoBeamer’s can achieve higher density on each train and are not constrained by driver availability. (Source: RAlpin, 2023).

Editor’s Analysis

CargoBeamer’s expansion highlights a strategic pivot in the transalpine freight market away from driver-accompanied RoLa systems toward more scalable unaccompanied intermodal solutions. This model better addresses the persistent truck driver shortage in Europe and aligns with EU goals for shifting freight from road to rail. By terminating the service at the Malpensa Intermodale terminal, CargoBeamer is positioning itself to capture valuable last-mile logistics flows connected to both the Milan industrial region and the Malpensa Airport (MXP) air cargo hub. This network growth reflects a wider German rail strategy focused on digital upgrades and infrastructure expansion to increase market share against road haulage. (Source: Fortune Business Insights).

FAQ

Q: Why was the previous Stuttgart-Domodossola route replaced?
A: The route was extended to the Malpensa Intermodale terminal, northwest of Milan, to provide more direct access to a primary Italian logistics and consumption hub. This positions the service closer to final freight destinations and integrates better with road and air transport networks.

Q: What is the freight capacity of this new service?
A: The operator has not disclosed the official capacity per train. However, a standard CargoBeamer train accommodates up to 36 semi-trailers, suggesting an initial weekly capacity of 288 semi-trailers in both directions across the four round trips.

Q: What is the difference between this service and the former Rolling Highway?
A: CargoBeamer’s service is an unaccompanied transport system, carrying only semi-trailers. The now-closed Rolling Highway (RoLa) was a driver-accompanied system that transported the entire truck, including the tractor unit and the driver, which is generally considered a less efficient use of rail capacity.