CargoBeamer has launched a new intermodal service linking Venlo in the Netherlands with Oradea in Romania. It’s the company’s first East-West corridor and one of the first direct semi-trailer routes between the two countries. The six-times-weekly service, introduced at the end of September, offers a 60-hour transit time and connects two key logistics hubs at the heart of Europe’s freight network.
Dutch trains depart daily from Sunday to Friday from the Cabooter Terminal in Venlo. Romanian services depart from Friday to Wednesday from the Intermodal Terminal Oradea. The services can accommodate both craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers, as well as Frigo trailers (reefer), ADR trailers (regulated dangerous goods) and tank trailers, containers, and swap bodies.
Venlo’s strategic position
Venlo, in the southeastern Netherlands near the German border, has become one of Europe’s busiest inland logistics hubs thanks to its central location between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp and major industrial regions in Germany. The Cabooter Terminal at Venlo is a key node in Europe’s intermodal rail network, offering efficient access to markets across Western and Central Europe. CargoBeamer’s decision to base its new route there underlines the Dutch city’s role as a strategic crossroads for North Sea–Danube trade.
CargoBeamer operates a unique logistics model that enables both craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers to be transferred between road and rail using its patented wagon and terminal technology. By integrating road-haulage flexibility with the environmental benefits of rail, the company has positioned itself as a key overland transport operator driving the decarbonisation and digitalisation of Europe’s freight corridors.
Strengthening East-West logistics
“With Venlo – Oradea, we are establishing one of the first direct intermodal links between the Netherlands and Romania, which is an important step towards further connecting Western and Eastern Europe,” said Boris Timm, COO of CargoBeamer.
“This new service enables sustainable transport over a long distance of approximately 1,500 kilometres. The connection between Venlo and Oradea marks another milestone in the expansion of our European network, supporting both our entry into Eastern Europe and the continued growth of the CargoBeamer network.” It was just a few months ago that CargoBeamer announced further expansion with a new terminal in Kaldenkirchen.
The route is being operated under a mixed concept, with Romanian logistics provider Routier European Transport using most of the available train slots and providing rail traction, while remaining capacity is offered to the open market. According to CargoBeamer, switching from road to rail on this corridor cuts carbon emissions by around 88% compared to diesel truck transport — a reduction of roughly 1,800 kilograms of CO₂ per semi-trailer.
Expanding a sustainable network
The new Venlo–Oradea link strengthens CargoBeamer’s position as a major player in the decarbonisation of European freight transport. The company’s patented transshipment technology allows even non-craneable semi-trailers to be moved efficiently by rail, bridging a gap that has historically limited intermodal transport’s reach. The sector for moving road trailers by rail is active and highly competitive in Europe. Operators including state-backed VIIA in France and independent operator Helrom in Germany.
CargoBeamer currently operates services across Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Romania, and continues to expand its network of terminals and scheduled intermodal connections across the continent. The Venlo–Oradea service adds a new corridor between Western and Eastern Europe, offering both environmental and operational advantages to shippers seeking alternatives to long-haul road transport.
This article was originally published by our sister publication WorldCargo News.