Source: https://railmarket.com/news/freight-rail/42412-db-cargo-separates-maritime-and-continental-combined-transport-operations
DB Cargo separates maritime and continental combined transport operations
12.11.2024 | The newly organised continental division, operating under the KONTImodal brand, focuses on stable terminal-to-terminal rail services across Germany and Europe.
DB Cargo has restructured its combined transport operations by separating maritime and continental services.
KONTImodal oversees approximately 12,000 trains annually, supported by a dedicated fleet of 75 locomotives and 123 train drivers. Resources are permanently assigned to specific routes, aiming to reduce transfers and idle times. This structure is intended to maintain predictable service performance and consistent scheduling.
The operational structure is backed by DB Cargo’s investments in intermodal companies and terminals. These include shares in Kombiverkehr, Lokomotion, PKV, RTC, and stakes in terminals such as Singen, Dörpen, and Bremen’s Roland terminal, as well as international sites in Lovosice (Czech Republic), Taulov and Høje Taastrup (Denmark).
Sales and product development are managed with a regional focus. Northern services include connections through Denmark and to ferry ports in Germany and Sweden. In western and southern Europe, services extend to France, Italy, and Spain, offering a range of standard, express, and special transport solutions.
KONTImodal’s offerings combine full-service chains, traction-only services, and modular add-ons such as local drayage, vehicle hire, and customs clearance. This modular product structure is used to match service levels to customer-specific requirements.
Operationally, the division follows a fixed production setup, with assigned crews and assets across defined corridors. This approach is designed to enhance planning reliability for domestic and international routes, including long-distance or partner-operated connections.
DB Cargo states that KONTImodal's transformation is part of a broader strategy to deliver stable rail freight services through a simplified structure, regional responsibility, and a consistent product offering.