ÖBB Rail Cargo: European Rail Freight Expansion & Sustainable Transport

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group Expands European Rail Freight Network with New Routes and Increased Frequencies

The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG), a leading European rail freight operator, is significantly enhancing its international rail freight network with strategic expansions across Central and Southeast Europe. This move aims to improve logistics efficiency and promote sustainable transportation options. The initiatives, rolling out in late 2024, include the launch of a new direct connection between Hungary and Romania, bolstered intermodal services in Belgium, Croatia, and Serbia, and increased service frequencies across key routes. The core objective is to provide robust, reliable rail freight solutions to support growing trade demands while reducing carbon emissions. These improvements strategically utilize the strengths of RCG’s existing infrastructure and operational expertise. This article examines the details of these route expansions and their impact on the European freight market.

New Direct Connection: Sopron (Hungary) to Arad (Romania)

RCG is strengthening conventional wagonload traffic with a new TransFER service linking Sopron, Hungary, to Arad, Romania. This new connection is designed to accelerate rail freight within Central Europe. The Sopron-Arad TransFER service, operating on a fixed timetable, enables efficient consolidation of wagon groups and single wagons, ensuring delivery within 24 hours. Arad, a key logistics hub situated near the Romanian border, provides strategic access to the broader Southeast European markets. The new corridor supports fast, scheduled rail transport with additional forwarding services, including transshipment, warehousing, picking, and door-to-door delivery. This integrated approach provides enhanced flexibility and reduces reliance on road freight, addressing crucial requirements of efficient logistics operations.

Increased Intermodal Frequency: Genk (Belgium) to Curtici (Romania)

In response to rising intermodal demand between Western and Eastern Europe, RCG has increased the frequency of its Genk–Curtici TransFER service to six weekly round trips. This route directly connects the Belgian logistics center of Genk with the Curtici terminal in western Romania. This strategic enhancement provides increased transport capacity and reliability for businesses. The service is capable of carrying a diverse range of freight, including containers, swap bodies, trailers, and non-craneable semi-trailers. Operating on fixed schedules with a transit time of approximately 40 hours, this service allows RCG to provide logistics operators with robust and efficient connectivity, integrating Belgium more effectively into the company’s Southeastern European network. The improved service directly benefits European logistics operators by improving transit times and delivery predictability.

Expanded Services in the Western Balkans: Belgrade (Serbia) to Rijeka (Croatia)

Demand is growing in the Western Balkans, where RCG is responding by increasing the TransFER service frequency between Belgrade and the Croatian port of Rijeka from two to three weekly round trips. This expansion underscores the growing importance of rail freight in this region. This service offers direct access between the Nelt terminal near Belgrade and Rijeka, through which around 70% of Serbia’s international freight is transported. The service utilizes RCG’s own traction, enabling transit times of up to 24 hours. In addition to the rail transport, the service provides integrated first- and last-mile logistics, improving connectivity. The extended service enhances the development of intermodal flows, providing a resilient, sustainable alternative to road transport and addressing crucial issues for the rail freight industry in this region.

Vienna (Austria) to Duisburg (Germany) Gains Traction

Launched two months prior, the Vienna–Duisburg TransFER is gaining traction, with two weekly round trips now firmly in the schedule. This service complements the well-established Budapest–Duisburg corridor and supports intermodal flows through key hubs in Austria, Hungary, and Italy. With competitive transit times and integrated connections, the Vienna–Duisburg service is proving to be a valuable addition to the RCG network. This route expansion illustrates a commitment to improving the network’s capacity and bolstering rail’s role in European freight transport. The consistent growth of the route suggests high demand and effectiveness as it has become a viable alternative to road transport within Europe.

Conclusion

The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group’s strategic expansion across Central and Southeast Europe signifies a significant commitment to providing efficient, sustainable rail freight solutions within the European market. The introduction of new routes, especially the Sopron-Arad TransFER, and the increased service frequencies for routes such as Genk-Curtici and Belgrade-Rijeka, demonstrate RCG’s dedication to integrating more robust rail options and providing transport solutions to the market. These enhancements support the growth in intermodal transport and reduce reliance on carbon-intensive road freight, contributing to environmental goals. The expansion of the Vienna–Duisburg TransFER demonstrates RCG’s capacity to respond quickly to the market demands. As demand for sustainable logistics grows, the company’s emphasis on service quality, transit times, and integration with additional forwarding services position it to secure a strong market position and provide valuable service to its clients. This recent growth will likely drive innovation, further improve operational reliability, and set new industry standards for sustainability and customer service in European rail freight.