German rail freight is nearly paralyzed, and freight operators and shippers are voicing strong complaints.

Critics in the rail freight industry state that no alternative routes are available, and that DB Netz’s emergency management capacity—and its workforce—is insufficient. As a result, dozens of international freight trains have been forced to halt operations or suffer severe delays. The letter states: 'DB Netz’s ability to resolve problems is extremely weak, creating unnecessary bottlenecks for freight services.' They argue that such incidents—occurring in Germany, a critically important transit country in Europe—damage the reputation of the entire European rail freight sector. The letter further notes: 'This exacerbates existing congestion at European seaports and inland transport hubs, further intensifying the supply chain crisis.' In response, they propose eight concrete measures to improve the situation. These include better coordination among international infrastructure managers regarding construction works; proper emergency management and designation of alternative routes; additional freight train schedules on weekends; and equitable allocation of restrictions between freight and passenger trains during the planning of construction sites. Moreover, given that large-scale construction projects will cut more than half of the available rail capacity, they call for the establishment of a committee to approve infrastructure projects—with railway companies, including DB, represented on it. Germany, a pivotal European freight transit hub, affects the entire system Recently, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine published a scathing article brimming with frustration over the current state of rail freight—replete with irony and sarcasm from rail freight operators and shippers directed at DB Netz. Sven Flore, CEO of SBB Cargo International, said: 'I’ve worked in the rail industry for 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.' He added: 'Under normal circumstances, we operate about 730 trains per week. Due to the complete collapse of Germany’s rail infrastructure, our turnover has dropped by roughly 15% to 17% over the past two to three weeks!' Had Germany not been Europe’s most important freight transit country, the situation might not be so dire. Yet approximately half of all European rail routes—including the most vital Rhine-Alpine Corridor—pass through Germany. When disruptions occur here, the entire system risks multi-day failure, with ripple effects across neighboring countries. Belgian operator Lineas reported that it hasn’t even been able to deliver cargo into Germany. Due to border-crossing interruptions, it had to park 17 trains between Liège and Aachen. It added: 'The situation in the Netherlands is similarly dire.' Industry insiders fully understand how this traffic chaos came about. It stems from the rail network’s already high utilization rate, compounded by DB Netz—the German infrastructure operator and subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn—attempting to repair long-neglected infrastructure. In 2021, Germany will invest a record €12.7 billion in modernizing, maintaining, and expanding tracks, bridges, and stations.

Deutsche Bahn Freight: 'I’m not selling!'

Recently, Alexander Doll, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Freight Logistics at Deutsche Bahn AG and Group CFO (Chief Financial Officer), gave an interview discussing the current state of DB Cargo. Having incurred losses for consecutive years, DB Cargo is—as Doll put it—'in an extremely difficult situation.' Yet, it appears the Group, from top to bottom, remains committed to retaining this business unit. (Image source: Deutsche Bahn AG) How to reverse the downward trend? 'After losing market share year after year, we must bring more revenue back onto the rails through diverse initiatives. But it’s comparatively difficult for us, because unlike our competitors, we cannot selectively focus only on high-margin business—we must provide comprehensive services.' The historically low water levels in recent years have hampered inland waterway shipping, presenting rail freight with a historic opportunity. Yet DB failed to successfully attract more cargo onto the rails—a shortfall rooted in DB Cargo’s lack of capacity. 'Over the past few years, we’ve invested nearly €500 million in DB Cargo. However, capital investments—such as purchasing freight wagons and flatcars—always entail a certain time lag. The entire industry also faces a shortage of personnel. Moreover, we’re competing with road transport. So, we can only win on quality. Asset investment, resolving human resource shortages, and pursuing service excellence constitute our 'three-pronged strategy.' When can we expect a turnaround? 'We aim to generate higher revenue this year—but eliminating the deficit in financial terms will take time.' How is DB responding to the merger of Denmark’s DSV and Switzerland’s Panalpina? 'The entire industry is undergoing massive transformation. In fact, only four logistics service providers possess truly global networks: DB Schenker, Kühne+Nagel, DHL, and DSV/Panalpina. In road, air, and sea freight, scale matters—i.e., economies of scale. DSV and Panalpina can only leverage their strengths in air and sea freight. We need to bind customers more closely and offer them value-added services.'

German Rail Struggles With Rhine Diversions, Logistics Firm Says

21 hours ago

Germany's rail network struggles to handle cargo diverted from low-water Rhine routes due to drought and maintenance, disrupting deliveries of diesel, coal, cocoa, and jet fuel while driving up transport costs.

bloomberg

2026-10-20

German Rail Struggles With Rhine Diversions, Logistics Firm Says

German Rail Struggles With Rhine Diversions, Logistics Firm Says

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