PSP Rail, the rail freight subsidiary of Hungarian logistics group Waberer’s International, has won a major contract with BMW to transport finished vehicles. The first rail train transporting luxury models cars recently departed from the German automaker’s plant in Debrecen plant, in Hungary.
By prioritising rail over road, the operation is expected to replace a substantial number of truck movements and materially reduce the environmental footprint of outbound logistics, Waberer’s said. Under the contract, running until 2031 and which is expected to generate several tens of millions of euros in revenue,
PSP Rail will provide regular rail transport to European seaports from where the vehicles will be-on-forwarded to numerous export markets with the US and China among key export destinations. Waberer’s has not disclosed which seaports the rail service will use, a Group spokesperson telling RailFreight.com: “Unfortunately, we are not in a position to share further operational details regarding the destination ports of the trains.” BMW currently uses Zeebrugge, in Belgium for its rail-borne automobiles
‘Step-by-step ramp-up’
The rail service will follow a step-by-step ramp-up, with further expansion in 2027 to cover “several strategic European maritime terminals”, commented Waberer’s chairman & CEOZsolt Barna. “This mandate is not only a recognition of Waberer’s Group’s rail logistics capabilities, but also an international success for the Hungarian logistics sector”.
It “fits perfectly” into the Group’s long-term strategy, where the growth of environmentally-friendly, intermodal solutions is a key pillar, he noted. “By prioritising rail over road transport, we can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of transport, supporting both our partners’ sustainability objectives and our own,” he added.
High volume, low emissions
The Group has implemented “significant capacity expansion” within the framework of the contract; a fleet of dedicated rolling stock made up of 110 rail wagons, optimised specifically for vehicle transport, has entered service, equipped with the latest safety and securing technologies.
Waberer’s has not elaborated further on the wagons but in January this year GATX Rail Europe announced the delivery of a batch of Laaers railcars to the Group in support of its automotive rail logistics operation in Europe. Waberer’s is also focused on using environmentally-friendly traction with transport supported by the most modern of Siemens Vectron electric locomotives, “ensuring efficiency and low emissions across the entire European route.”
Growing footprint
In 2024, Waberer’s acquired a 51 per cent stake in Petrolsped Budapest. Petrolsped (PSP Group), a provider ofrail logistics services mainly in Hungary and Romania, marking its entry into the segment. At the end of that year, purchased a 70 per cent stake in Gysev Cargo, at the time Hungary’s second largest rail transportation service provider.
Buoyant market outlook
Rail logistics serving the European automotive industry could be poised to enter a buoyant phase. Industry growth is being mainly driven by Chinese automakers who are moving beyond vehicle imports into Europe and planning to set up assembly plants on the Continent bringing new supply chain dynamics, new flows, and new partnerships.
BYD, for example,is scheduled to begin series production at its new car plant in Szeged, Hungary, in the second quarter of 2026. Add to that the growing recognition among manufacturers as to theimportance of low-carbon freight transport and logistics, and the potential for strong growth in the train-borne shipment of vehicles would appear significant.