DB Cargo BTT developed and implemented a new container transport scheme to Switzerland within three months after the container wagons previously used were withdrawn from the market in late 2025. Changing market conditions threatened existing intermodal supply chains – particularly for the chemical industry, where logistics stability is critical. The new solution has ensured uninterrupted transport operations since the beginning of the current year.
A key element of the project was DB Cargo BTT’s own fleet of two- and four-axle container flatcars, supplemented by wagons from the wider DB Cargo network. The company established a reserve fleet in the Basel area, where a dedicated siding was also set up to provide rolling stock quickly in response to urgent transport needs. This enables rapid transport organization and maintains logistics reliability, even amidst market-wide wagon shortages.
The new scheme involves delivering containers to Basel via intermodal routes, single-wagon shipments, or road transport, followed by transshipment to rail by DB Cargo BTT. According to Marco Borgwardt, Head of Sales and Multimodal Solutions Development, owning a fleet of container wagons allows DB Cargo BTT to respond swiftly to market changes and provide clients with reliable transport solutions during periods of instability.