Deutsche Bahn and Boluda Corporación Marítima have finalised the transfer of Transfesa’s intermodal rail business. The deal, which will make Boluda on of Spain’s biggest rail operators, was initially announced in September.
Boluda is taking over all of Transfesa’s maintenance, terminal management and shunting activities, as well as its rolling stock. The deal excludes, however, all international traction and automotive-related activities, which remain with the DB subsidiary.
“We are taking a decisive step towards a truly intermodal model in the Iberian Peninsula, whereby maritime, rail, and road transport no longer exist separately but operate under the Boluda brand in a single logistics chain”, company representatives commented on the deal.
After the sea and the road comes rail
Boluda already offers maritime and road transport services, but the Transfesa will immediately propel it forward to be among the major rail service providers in Spain. As of September, Transfesa was the fourth largest private operator (fifth when also counting Renfe) in Spain, behind Captrain, Medway and Continental.
The ‘new kid on the block’ Boluda hopes that the addition of rail to its portfolio will help achieve greater efficiency in the supply chain, boost the reliability of its services and reduce the company’s carbon footprint.