A new milestone for semi-trailer-on-rail specialist CargoBeamer: it has signed its largest traction contract to date with SBB Cargo International. It covers the Kaldenkirchen–Domodossola route, where CargoBeamer has just upped its frequency to 22 round trips per week.
The deal will enter into force in mid-December and run for two years. It marks the end of BLS Cargo providing traction on the route since 2015.
CargoBeamer tells RailFreight.com that it put out a traction tender for the Kaldenkirchen–Domodossola service and received offers from a lot of major providers. Ultimately, the choice went to Switzerland’s national operator SBB through its international freight subsidiary.
Why SBB?
CargoBeamer had been looking for a partner that could commit proper assets on the route. This is because the intermodal operator just recently increased its weekly frequency to 22 round trips on the Kaldenkirchen–Domodossola route. Next year, it could go for over 30 round trips between the German and Italian freight hubs.
Moreover, CargoBeamer wanted to partner up with a company that could do disruption management at that frequency. Knowledge of the region, too, was a major concern that factored into the decision.
SBB Cargo International and CargoBeamer have cooperated before. The former has been providing traction on the Kornwestheim–Milan route since January 2025, and CargoBeamer is satisfied with its performance. Despite the rapid frequency growth of its services, CargoBeamer is not pursuing being a traction provider in the short term, it tells RailFreight.com.
