SBB Cargo International

SBB Cargo International is a Swiss rail freight business established in 2010 as a joint venture between SBB Cargo and Hupac. It was created after SBB abandoned plans to improve the profitability and financial independence of its freight division through the sale of stakes to other international railway operators. The new undertaking was designed to concentrate on international rather than primarily domestic traffic, with an initial strategic focus on block trains and intermodal services between Germany and Italy through Switzerland. At formation, SBB Cargo held 75 percent and Hupac, a privately owned intermodal transport operator, held 25 percent. The venture sought to build a more cost-efficient operating model by concentrating resources on selected European routes, reducing structural costs, and coordinating international train production more directly. Its customer base was expected to consist largely of intermodal transport operators rather than individual shippers, reflecting the company's role as a rail traction and freight-production specialist within broader logistics chains. The company's principal market is the Rhine-Alpine and related North-South corridor linking the ports and industrial regions of northern Europe with Switzerland and Italy. Its services use electric locomotives and cross-border operating capabilities to move combined-transport units and other freight trains across several national rail systems. The business has progressively worked to reduce dependence on external operating partners. One example was the incorporation of SBB Cargo Nederland in Rotterdam in 2019, which gave the group a local presence in the Dutch freight market and supported more direct planning and implementation of trains on the Netherlands-Italy route. Infrastructure development has been important to SBB Cargo International's expansion. The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2016, followed by the Ceneri Base Tunnel, improved the strategic conditions for freight movements through Switzerland. The company prepared new services for the Gotthard route and has also pursued longer trains, including 740-metre formations, to increase capacity and productivity. Additional electric locomotives have supported this development, including Siemens Mobility Vectron multisystem locomotives ordered for use on the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. The company has also had to manage significant infrastructure disruption. The 2017 closure of the Rhine Valley railway near Rastatt after a landslide interrupted a major European freight route, requiring capacity adjustments, timetable changes, and close coordination with infrastructure and crisis-management organizations. A further landslide-related closure in the Middle Rhine Valley disrupted services again in 2019. These events reinforced the company's public support for more diversionary capacity, longer trains, improved cross-border coordination, and alternative routes on the left bank of the Rhine. In 2023, SBB Cargo International joined other rail logistics companies in calling for measures including greater use of alternative routes through France, expanded bilingual staffing, and changes to restrictions affecting night freight operations. SBB Cargo International has also participated in humanitarian logistics. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it arranged rail movements carrying relief supplies and aid to Ukraine with other logistics operators. Overall, its positioning is that of a specialized international rail freight operator combining cross-border traction, corridor expertise, and intermodal capacity. Its development has been shaped as much by European rail infrastructure, tunnel openings, network disruptions, and regulatory conditions as by fleet investment and commercial expansion.

SBB Cargo International was formed in 2010 as a new railway undertaking created by SBB Cargo and Hupac. Its establishment followed the failure of SBB's earlier strategy of attracting international railway operators as shareholders in order to strengthen the profitability and independence of its freight business. Rather than relying on that arrangement, SBB Cargo created a dedicated international venture with Hupac, an established intermodal transport operator. The initial ownership structure gave SBB Cargo a 75 percent share and Hupac a 25 percent share. The company was headquartered in Olten and was tasked with concentrating on international block and intermodal trains, particularly on the North-South corridor between Germany and Italy. Its commercial logic was to focus on selected routes, optimize the use of locomotives and crews, and reduce structural costs. Intermodal operators were expected to represent the majority of its customers and revenue base. The business expanded as cross-border freight became a stronger part of SBB's overall freight performance. By the middle of the 2010s, international services were growing more strongly than traditional domestic routes. The 2016 opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel was a major infrastructure development for the company's Swiss transit operations. SBB Cargo International had prepared for the new route, and the tunnel, together with the later Ceneri Base Tunnel, improved the conditions for efficient transalpine freight movements. Fleet development accompanied the route strategy. At the beginning of operations, the company leased 109 locomotives from SBB Cargo, including 59 multisystem locomotives capable of working across borders. It later pursued longer 740-metre trains and encouraged infrastructure managers to make more routes compatible with such train lengths. In 2019, it announced the purchase of 20 Siemens Mobility Vectron multisystem locomotives, with an option for 20 more, primarily for the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. A further order for 20 Vectrons was reported in 2022. Network reliability has been a recurring challenge. In 2017, a landslide caused the prolonged closure of the Rhine Valley railway near Rastatt. Because the line is a major European freight artery, SBB Cargo International had to adapt capacity and timetables while coordinating with railway infrastructure organizations and emergency-management teams. Another landslide closed the Middle Rhine Valley route for more than a month in 2019. These disruptions contributed to the company's advocacy for additional diversionary routes, longer trains, and better cross-border operational coordination. The company expanded its organizational footprint in the Netherlands during this period. In December 2019, SBB Cargo International announced the incorporation of SBB Cargo Nederland in Rotterdam. The subsidiary was intended to provide a more direct operating and planning presence in the Dutch freight market and reduce dependence on external parties for the Netherlands-Italy corridor. At the outset, drivers were supplied by the affiliated SBB Cargo Germany business. In 2022, SBB Cargo International participated in the movement of relief supplies to Ukraine after Russia's invasion. In early 2023, it joined other rail logistics businesses in calling for infrastructure owners to create more capacity on alternative Rhine routes, particularly along the river's left bank. The recommendations included better diversion routes through France, greater availability of bilingual personnel, wider use of alternative paths, and reconsideration of restrictions on night freight operations. SBB Cargo International's development therefore reflects the wider European shift toward integrated and lower-emission freight logistics, while also showing the industry's dependence on international infrastructure. Its core identity remains that of a corridor-focused rail freight operator connecting northern European markets, Switzerland, and Italy through cross-border electric traction and intermodal services.

• 2022

  Additional Vectron locomotives ordered

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  A further 20 Vectron locomotives were ordered to support the company's expansion plans.

• 2019

  SBB Cargo Nederland incorporated

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  A Rotterdam-based subsidiary was created to support direct operation and planning in the Dutch rail freight market.

• 2019

  Vectron locomotive order announced

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced an order for 20 Siemens Vectron multisystem locomotives, with an option for 20 additional units.

• 2017

  Rastatt route closure disrupts European freight

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  A landslide closed the Rhine Valley line for weeks, prompting service, capacity, and timetable measures by SBB Cargo International.

• 2016

  Gotthard Base Tunnel opens

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel enabled new operating opportunities for transalpine freight and supported the company's international route expansion.

• 2010

  Company founded as an SBB Cargo–Hupac joint venture

  [1]SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  SBB Cargo International was established to handle international block and intermodal freight on European North-South routes, initially with SBB Cargo holding 75 percent and Hupac holding 25 percent.

A specialized European partner for reliable, cross-border rail freight on the North-South and Rhine-Alpine corridors, with an emphasis on intermodal transport, operational efficiency, and transalpine connectivity.

• Rail freight · 2010

  International block-train services

  SBB Cargo International operates dedicated block trains for cross-border freight flows, particularly on the European North-South corridor linking Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. These services move complete trainloads without requiring individual wagon assembly at every intermediate point, supporting predictable transit and efficient corridor operations.

• Combined transport · 2010

  Intermodal rail freight

  The company's principal business includes intermodal services for transport operators moving containers and other standardized loading units by rail. The model connects maritime, road, and rail logistics networks and is particularly important on routes between northern European ports, Switzerland, and Italy.

• Rail freight · 2016

  Transalpine freight services

  Transalpine services use Switzerland's major base-tunnel infrastructure to connect northern and southern European markets. The Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels have supported the company's efforts to operate more efficient freight paths through the Swiss Alps.

• Railway traction · 2019

  Cross-border electric traction

  SBB Cargo International uses multisystem electric locomotives for operations across national railway networks with different electrical and regulatory requirements. Its Vectron fleet investments were intended to strengthen capacity and operational flexibility on the Rhine-Alpine Corridor.

• 2023

  Advocate for additional Rhine diversion capacityStrategy

  Background

  Repeated closures and capacity shortages on the Rhine Valley freight network exposed the vulnerability of the principal North-South route.

  Action taken

  SBB Cargo International joined other rail logistics companies in requesting more diversionary routes, longer-train capability, improved bilingual staffing, and changes affecting night freight operations.

  Aftermath

  The company publicly positioned infrastructure resilience and cross-border flexibility as necessary conditions for shifting more freight to rail.

  Source

• 2019

  Establish SBB Cargo NederlandStrategy

  Background

  The Netherlands-Italy corridor required local operating and planning capabilities, and reliance on third parties limited direct control over cross-border train implementation.

  Action taken

  SBB Cargo International incorporated SBB Cargo Nederland in Rotterdam.

  Aftermath

  The subsidiary gave the company a direct presence in the Dutch rail freight market and reduced dependence on external providers for selected activities.

  Source

• 2019

  Invest in Vectron multisystem locomotivesProduct launch

  Background

  The company needed additional cross-border electric traction for growing Rhine-Alpine Corridor services and for operations associated with new Swiss base-tunnel infrastructure.

  Action taken

  SBB Cargo International ordered 20 Siemens Mobility Vectron multisystem locomotives and secured an option for 20 more.

  Aftermath

  The order expanded the company's dedicated cross-border fleet and was followed by a further 20-locomotive order reported in 2022.

  Source

• 2016

  Prepare freight operations for the Gotthard Base TunnelGeneration change

  Background

  The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel created a faster and more efficient route through the Swiss Alps.

  Action taken

  SBB Cargo International prepared new freight services and operating patterns for the tunnel and subsequent transalpine infrastructure.

  Aftermath

  International freight movements became an increasingly important contributor to the company's growth.

  Source

• 2010

  Create a dedicated international freight ventureStrategy

  Background

  SBB's plan to strengthen the freight division by selling stakes to other international railway operators did not proceed. SBB Cargo instead pursued a dedicated joint venture with Hupac focused on international block and intermodal traffic.

  Action taken

  SBB Cargo and Hupac founded SBB Cargo International, with SBB Cargo holding 75 percent and Hupac holding 25 percent.

  Aftermath

  The new company concentrated on selected European corridors and sought lower structural costs and greater operating efficiency.

  Source

1. 1SBB Cargo Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2SBB Cargo International official websitesbbcargointernational.com