{"id":348551,"date":"2026-01-13T23:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T13:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=68619"},"modified":"2026-01-13T23:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T13:07:01","slug":"cargobeamer-jumps-into-market-gap-with-new-cross-alpine-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=348551","title":{"rendered":"CargoBeamer jumps into market gap with new cross-alpine service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rail operator CargoBeamer has launched a new tri-weekly service between Li\u00e8ge, Belgium and Domodossola, Italy last week. The launch follows the discontinuation of a Italy-Germany Rolling Highway in December. CargoBeamer hopes to (partially) jump into the market gap left by the cancelled service, the company tells RailFreight.com.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>\u201cWe are opening Liege\u2013Domodossola at an important moment for transalpine intermodal traffic, as the transport of non-craneable semi-trailers across Switzerland undergoes a paradigm shift\u201d, explained Boris Timm, COO of CargoBeamer. \u201cIn addition to entering the highly promising Belgian market with this new connection, we are also supporting forwarders seeking alternatives to the discontinued Rolling Highway service. Li\u00e8ge\u2013Domodossola is our first step in filling this gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new service will operate three weekly round-trips, but CargoBeamer is planning to increase the frequency to 6 weekly round-trips by Q2 2026. The company is also looking to extend the service into other parts of northern Italy.<\/p>\n

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CargoBeamer says that its new service accommodates all major loading units<\/strong>, including craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers, refrigerated trailers, ADR and tank units, containers, swap bodies, and specialized equipment. Traction is provided by BLS Cargo.<\/p>\n

In Belgium, operations are handled at the Li\u00e8ge Logistics Intermodal Terminal<\/strong>, while trains in Domodossola are processed at the DB Cargo Transa \/ FLS Terminal<\/strong>, the rail operator specifies. The service enables CO2 emission savings of 86% compared to diesel road transport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The cancelled Rolling Highway<\/h2>\n

The introduction of this new Liege-Domodossola service is partially a response to the cancellation of the Rolling Highway, CargoBeamer tells RailFreight.com. The company can pick up a part of the volume previously serviced by the Rolling Highway service, despite offering a different route and not transporting trucks and truck drivers. CargoBeamer sees a gap in the cross-alpine market for semi-trailer transportation, especially non-craneable ones, and is looking to start more services in the region in the future.<\/p>\n

As RailFreight.com reported in December, operator RAlpin had to cancel its Rolling Highway service in part due to the impactful construction works in Germany. CargoBeamer admits that the works will also affect its operations on the Li\u00e8ge-Domodossola route, although emphasises that it likely won\u2019t pose \u201cany major challenge\u201d. It won\u2019t have the same detrimental effect.<\/p>\n

The Rolling Highway likely faced increased cancellation rates as a result of the construction works, because it could not be as flexible in its operations due to its responsibility to transport trucks and their drivers. CargoBeamer offers unaccompanied connections, which means that it can more easily run delayed trains and keep operations going.<\/p>\n