Link: https://www.railfreight.com/intermodal/2025/06/18/cargobeamer-to-build-one-of-the-most-advanced-intermodal-transshipment-facilities-in-europe/

CargoBeamer to build “one of the most advanced intermodal transshipment facilities in Europe”

Hundreds of thousands of semi-trailers will move from the road onto rail. At least, that is the expected outcome of CargoBeamer’s new project: a new intermodal transshipment terminal in Kaldenkirchen, Germany. The logistics company says that it will be “one of the most advanced intermodal transshipment facilities in Europe”.

Kaldenkirchen is located close to the border with the Netherlands, just across from the important Dutch logistics node Venlo. Construction work on the new terminal will begin in the second half of 2025, and it should start operations in 2026.

The design of the facility is specifically catered to the automated loading of non-craneable semi-trailers to rail, explains CargoBeamer. With an annual handling capacity of 228,000 loading units, it should help take hundreds of thousands of semi-trailers off the road

“The new facility in Kaldenkirchen will serve as the company’s first proprietary terminal in Germany”, says CargoBeamer. “With its highly automated and proprietary transshipment technology, CargoBeamer continues to set new standards in the road-rail freight transport.” The company points to its Calais terminal from 2021, which it says has demonstrated the “maturity and reliability” of CargoBeamer’s system in day-to-day operations.

Modal shift momentum

In terms of its business strategy, CargoBeamer calls the future Kaldenkirchen terminal a major milestone in the company’s growth. It hopes to open up opportunities for combined road-rail transport in the Rhine-Ruhr and Benelux markets.

The Kaldenkirchen terminal will be built in two phases on the existing Cabooter Group site. Phase one, starting autumn 2025 and finishing in late 2026, will cover 133,000 square metres, see the implementation of CargoBeamer’s transshipment technology, over 270 semi-trailer parking spots, and automated check-ins and check-outs. Existing operations will largely continue during construction. After 2026, the full expansion will grow the site to 159,000 square metres.

“By building our first CargoBeamer terminal in Germany, we are delivering the momentum needed to accelerate the modal shift across Europe”, CEO Nicolas Albert stated. “Kaldenkirchen will be home to our largest terminal yet, where we’ll demonstrate the full capabilities of the CargoBeamer system. To achieve a large-scale shift of semi-trailers from road to rail, the intermodal industry needs frequent services and terminals designed specifically for semi-trailers – which is exactly what we’re delivering in Kaldenkirchen.”