Homestory.
Behind the scenes of the traction changeover.

You've probably already heard: Kombiverkehr is reorganising its traction services. Sounds simple, but it's a complex task that will challenge us for more than a year. We would like to explain why we are doing this and why it is a significant step for us. And don't worry: we have planned everything so that you will feel as little as possible of the traction changeover and continue to benefit from our flexible and safe intermodal transport services. But we still want to be transparent and take you with us on our journey.

In this ‘Homestory’ series, we will give you regular insights into this exciting process. Here you can find out all about the progress of the changeover, the challenges we are facing and the solutions we are finding. It's as if we're giving you a glimpse behind the scenes of our company - similar to a home story, where you can take a look inside a private home. You will get to know the people who make these changes possible and understand why we are convinced that this step will make us stronger together.

Your Kombiverkehr team

What it's all about.
And how the transformation succeeds.

In coordination with DB Cargo, we will transfer many of our routes to other railway undertakings (RUs). Of all the daily departures offered by Kombiverkehr, around 60 per cent are affected by the changeover. You can imagine the scale of such a reorganisation.

The background to this decision is a procedure initiated by the EU Commission against the Federal Republic of Germany. It is investigating whether Deutsche Bahn is unlawfully supporting its subsidiary DB Cargo by compensating for its losses. At the end of November, the EU decided that DB Cargo must manage without additional funding from the parent company in future. The Commission also wants DB Cargo to sell off parts of its fleet, i.e. locomotives, and shareholdings in order to consolidate its financial position. The rail transport company should continue the transformation that has already been initiated.    

That is why we took this step early on, as we saw no alternative. After all, playing for time could have had far-reaching consequences for our customers. We ran the risk of no longer being able to offer train services from one day to the next. We didn't want to risk that. Intermodal customers need security and don't want any nasty surprises.

Kombiverkehr is therefore facing a huge effort. But we are well positioned and are organising the transformation in a structured and well-considered manner. And with proven partners. 

strong together.
With our partners.

Who are these partners? The rail freight companies Lokomotion and KombiRail Europe as well as the Dienstleistungsgesellschaft für Intermodale Verkehre (DIV) play a major role. All three players will massively increase their capacities in order to cope with the additional connections and the associated tasks.

Lokomotion
KombiRail Europe
DIV
Company for rail traction. 
Lokomotion.

Lokomotion specialises in transalpine freight transport. The company, in which we hold a 25 per cent stake, has stood for safety and reliability on one of our most important axes in Italian transport for many years.

One goal. One path. One traction driver.
KombiRail Europe.

Our wholly-owned subsidiary KombiRail Europe is already operating between the western ports and the Ruhr region and will be travelling throughout Germany for us in the future. 

Mobile wagon repairs.
DIV Service company for intermodal transport.

The focus of DIV, which is also a 100 per cent shareholding, has so far been on repairs and certifications in the wagon sector. Now we have the additional task of building up and managing our own wagon fleet, as we will no longer be purchasing wagons together with the traction division.

We are tackling our reorganisation in several stages. Over the coming months, we will gradually entrust our transport operations to new traction providers. In addition to the railways already introduced, these include ČD Cargo, e.g.o.o. Eisenbahngesellschaft Ostfriesland-Oldenburg, LTE Logistik- und Transport and SBB Cargo International. And we will of course remain associated with DB Cargo as our complementary partner from the very beginning.

Stay tuned.
We regularly publish the latest developments, stories and information here. Check back here from time to time to make sure you don't miss any news. Let's go down this path together - we look forward to keeping you up to date with exciting stories and the latest information. 
Our progress over time.
What. When. Why?