As of January 1, 2026, DB Cargo will assume full responsibility for single-car freight transport between Germany and Italy on the Mannheim-Chiasso route. Previously, transit on the Mannheim-Chiasso route was handled by external partners, but the entire process is now integrated into the company’s unified network. As Martin Brunner, Managing Director of DB Cargo Switzerland, noted, the plan is to operate up to 36 trains per week in each direction, with the Swiss subsidiary independently managing the key transit link of the group’s transalpine transport.
Single-car transport is considered one of the most complex formats in international logistics, yet this segment remains a key competitive advantage for DB Cargo in Europe: its network connects more than 4,200 rail sidings. For the first time, the entire transport chain – from dispatch in Mannheim, transit through Switzerland, and delivery to more than 50 sidings in Italy – is concentrated in a single operator. In Italy, shunting and dispatching operations are handled by its subsidiary, DB Cargo Italia.
The company emphasizes that consolidated management reduces the number of operational interfaces, improves production stability, and increases efficiency on the key North-South axis. On January 27, the 200th single-car train completed the route, confirming the sustainability of the new model. DB Cargo notes that this step strengthens the integration of the European network and creates the foundation for further strengthening the competitiveness of cross-border transport.