From steel to software, DB Cargo blends tradition with technology for smarter logistics 

Leading provider of freight powered transportation services, DB Cargo, is revolutionizing the industry with sustainable railroad solutions. Founded in 2000, the company is now one of the largest rail logistics operators in the UK, as Chief Operations Officer, Neil Ethell, begins: “Born out of privatization under British Railways, the company has been passed through the hands of Wisconsin Central, Canadian National Railway, and today, we stand firmly as part of the Deutsche Bahn group of companies.  

“As one of the largest freight logistics operators, we offer customers a complete one-stop solution for rail freight transportation, providing a full range of logistics, supply chain, and associated services, including door-to-door deliveries, warehousing and terminal-management. This means customers can choose a single supplier to transport freight from ports and terminals to destinations throughout the UK, on time and with minimal environmental impact.

“We move, handle and store products ranging from containers to steel coil, aggregate, biomass, and finished vehicles. We are also immensely proud to hold the Royal Warrant for transportation services to his Majesty the King and his family.  

“Our expertise doesn’t stop at logistics solutions; we are also a market leader in rail engineering and maintenance through our network of strategically placed maintenance depots.” 

With a deliberately diverse service offering, DB Cargo operates in dozens of markets across Great Britain and Europe. As Neil discusses: “We move everything from biomass to barbeques, and we can do it anywhere between the UK and Ukraine. We are proud of our rich heritage as a pan-European logistics provider and work closely with our sister companies across Europe to provide international solutions for our customers. To do this we leverage our international corridors via our network of DB Cargo companies, spanning 18 countries.  

“As mentioned, we support a host of critical industries in the UK and across Europe, delivering critical mass for major infrastructure projects, house building, steel production, fast moving consumer goods, and much more.  

“We also maintain assets across the UK rail infrastructure network, both track and train. Third party maintenance currently accounts for around 15 percent of our total activities, but we are confident that can be doubled in the near future.” 

Having recently invested in an all-new operating system, DB Cargo is already reaping the rewards, as Neil affirms: “An important part of our transformation is a new state-of-the-art, end-to-end operational system, which ensures the optimization of our processes, making the business more flexible and versatile. Adopting this technology will ultimately add value for customers and partners throughout the supply chain. 

“Additionally, building the digital capability up will allow us to better understand the profitability of our operational and growth strategies. It will allow us to be much more cost effective and competitively priced, while enabling much richer conversations with our customers that are informed by real time data from across the business. 

“We’re also embracing technology in other ways. The company is currently leading the way in the development of the new European Train Control System (ETCS), specifically working on class 66 locomotives. This technology will revolutionize the rail network in the UK and become the biggest fundamental technological revolution since the shift from steam to diesel.” 

Sustainable transport solution 

Not content to simply meet industry standards, DB Cargo is raising the bar for everyone: “We’re the lead freight operating company for six classes of locomotives, including Class 66 and 67. This means our locomotives are the first in the UK to have brand-new ETCS equipment retrofitted onboard. Once designed, fitted, tested and approved, this becomes the blueprint for all ETCS fitments on Class 66 and Class 67 locomotives in the UK. It’s a huge undertaking, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of ETCS freight fitment.  

“The new technology brings change to every part of our business. Whether you’re a train driver, a maintainer, or a planner, things will be done differently with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). In preparation for the training requirements this change brings, we’ve built three brand new training facilities complete with state-of-the-art simulators for our colleagues.  

“ERTMS offers significant capacity and performance benefits, as well as further enhancing safety beyond the capability of older systems. We expect to run faster, longer, heavier trains, and more of them, which allows us to use our fleet to its full potential,” Neil details.  

Pioneering planet-first transport solutions puts DB Cargo at the cutting edge of a major industry shift, as Neil asserts: “At DB Cargo UK, we firmly believe that freight belongs on rail. As a leader in the UK rail freight industry and part of the Deutsche Bahn family, we are committed to driving a modal shift from road to rail, helping to create a more sustainable and efficient logistics network across the country. 

“Rail freight offers a solution to many of the environmental challenges we face today. By moving goods by rail, we reduce the number of trucks on the road, cut carbon emissions, and contribute to improved air quality and reduced congestion. Rail freight is one of the most sustainable forms of transport, with significantly lower carbon emissions per ton-kilometer compared to road haulage.” 

Always thinking one step ahead, Neil and his team are ensuring the future of transport and logistics, as he concludes: “In the coming years, I hope to see DB Cargo evolve into the most profitable and environmentally sustainable transport and logistics provider in the UK. Our goal is to become a market leader, with a diverse range of expert products, serving the whole rail and transportation sector.”  

uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en