Deutsche Bahn is considering a substantial workforce reduction at its freight subsidiary DB Cargo. The downscaling would follow a potential cancellation of the single wagonload (SWL) business, which is chronically loss-making.
The possibility of halving the DB Cargo workforce was first reported by the German publication Handelsblatt. According to company and supervisory board insiders, cited by Handelsblatt, consultants are working on scenarios to downsize or shut down the SWL division. The consultants’ scenarios include a possible reduction of the SWL business by 80%.
Deutsche Bahn confirms that DB Cargo is working on a plan to make its SWL business more profitable. DB “has asked the company to submit a revised concept for sustainable, profitable single freight car transport”, a spokesperson explains to RailFreight.com.
“All of DB Cargo’s other divisions have already achieved this level of profitability. In contrast, single freight car transport is still in the red – due to the incomplete distribution of federal funding in 2024 as well as the tense economic situation and declining transport volumes in Germany.”
An enormous SWL player
If the 80% reduction scenario were to come true, it would have a profound impact on the German rail freight landscape. Single wagonload traffic accounts for 14% of total German rail freight as of 2023. Out of those 14%, DB Cargo had a market share of 90% in 2024. In other words, if DB Cargo were to largely cancel its SWL business, it would leave a big gap in the German rail freight market.
In April 2025, RailFreight.com also reported that DB Cargo was considering getting rid of its SWL business. “Either we in Germany manage to structure single wagonload transport in a financially sustainable way, or we cannot operate it in this form any longer”, DB Cargo’s CEO Sigrid Nikutta told German press at the time.
The Commission is watching DB Cargo closely
DB Cargo needs to become financially stable and reduce its dependence on state aid, otherwise the European Commission could take decisive action against the company. Its French counterpart Fret SNCF was broken up for similar reasons. SWL remains an obstacle to the financial stability of DB Cargo, for which reason a cancellation under consideration.
The German steel, chemical and construction sectors are big customers of DB Cargo’s SWL services. Companies in those sectors would face considerable logistical challenges if DB Cargo were to kill its single wagonload business.