DB Cargo initiates new shuttle train from Germany to Romania
German rail company DB Cargo has launched a new freight service to Romania. The shuttle train connects Bavaria and the Ruhr region with Craiova, an important railway junction in southwestern Romania, and other parts of the Balkan country.
The new wagonload service is formed at Schwandorf station in eastern Bavaria. DB Cargo combines wagons from the Ruhr region and northern Germany. After passing through Austria and Hungary, the train reaches Craiova. Then the freight wagons are distributed all over Romania. The shuttle train takes three days in one direction: it departs from Schwandorf on Saturday and arrives at Craiova on Monday. The return journey starts on Tuesday and arrives at Schwandorf on Thursday.
Steel
In the future, DB Cargo plans to increase the frequency. “The high level of market acceptance and positive growth in volumes mean that we are planning additional departures”, Helena Petkau from the company’s Single Wagon Offer Management said.
DB Cargo reported that the Schwandorf – Craiova shuttle train is open for all types of freight. Now, it is focused mostly on the delivery of steel. Coiled steel is supplied by the southbound trains while the northbound ones transport semi-finished steel products. The company regards the new service as a more reliable option in carrying goods compared to trucks. “Each of our wagons can transport heavier loads than a truck,” Helena Petkau noted.