CargoBeamer assumes terminal operations in Kaldenkirchen and advances expansion
First Facility with CargoBeamer Technology in Germany to Launch in Early 2027
CargoBeamer, a leading provider of intermodal rail connections for semi-trailers, assumed operations of the existing terminal in Kaldenkirchen in April 2026. Operational responsibility has been transferred from the previous operator to CargoBeamer. At the same time, construction works for the expansion of the site into the first CargoBeamer terminal in Germany are progressing on schedule and in parallel with ongoing operations. The first of two expansion phases is set to go live by early 2027.
CargoBeamer has been operating an intermodal service between Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola for several years, enabling non-craneable semi-trailers to use rail at scale. With currently 20 weekly roundtrips, it ranks among the most frequent schedules in Europe’s intermodal sector. In Kaldenkirchen, units are currently handled at the existing site using reachstacker equipment. With the installation of the CargoBeamer handling technology, CargoBeamer will enable fully automated, horizontal transshipment of all types of semi-trailers. This will double the terminal's annual capacity to around 140,000 loading units from 2027. Upon completion of the final full expansion, terminal capacity will exceed 200,000 loading units per year, which is more than three times the pre-expansion level.
Expansion into CargoBeamer Terminal Continues Alongside Full Operations
Construction works for the expansion into a CargoBeamer terminal equipped with the horizontal CargoBeamer handling technology have been underway since late 2025. The project is on schedule. Expansion works are being executed alongside daily operations, ensuring continuous train operations throughout the majority of the construction period.
Nicolas Albrecht, CEO of CargoBeamer, comments: "With the expansion of the terminal in Kaldenkirchen, we continue to invest in proprietary infrastructure as the strategic backbone of our European network. While we look forward with great anticipation to the opening of the first CargoBeamer terminal in Germany, the expansion of our terminal in Domodossola with CargoBeamer technology is set to follow shortly. From 2027, we will connect the new terminals in Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola into the highest-frequency corridor in the European intermodal sector, demonstrating the dominance of the CargoBeamer system in the market."
About CargoBeamer
The CargoBeamer Group is a trailblazing logistics provider specializing in the integration of road and rail transport. As a leader in the large-scale decarbonization of European freight, CargoBeamer is committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions that shift freight transport from road to rail, significantly benefiting the environment. The CargoBeamer system, featuring patented wagons, transshipment terminals, and advanced logistics software, is uniquely designed to enable the rail transport of especially non-craneable semi-trailers. This approach not only drastically reduces CO2 emissions but also lowers other external costs associated with freight transport. Currently, CargoBeamer operates trains across Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Romania with a focus on expanding its network of efficient terminals throughout Europe. These terminals are strategically linked by regularly scheduled intermodal trains running at high frequencies, facilitating climate-friendly rail transport for hundreds of thousands of semi-trailers each year.