ÖBB subsidiary Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has acquired Captrain Netherlands. RCG and Captrain closed the deal on 31 May. With the acquisition, RCG is continuing its course of international expansion.

RCG announced the acquisition of Captrain Netherlands on Friday 31 May. Captrain Netherlands has 61 employees and had a turnover of 12,2 million euros in 2022. It primarily operates in the Geleen and Moerdijk terminals, as well as the Port of Rotterdam. It is the third largest rail freight operator in the Netherlands.

ÖBB characterises the move as a way to “connect the European economic centres with the ports of Europe and thus with the whole world.” Earlier, RCG expanded internationally by establishing subsidiaries in China and Serbia. The price for RCG’s acquisition of Captrain Netherlands was not made available by the parties involved.

Expansion of own traction network

“The Benelux countries are an important market for us. With the expansion of our own traction network, we will also be able to handle our TransFER connections end-to-end as own traction in the future.” ÖBB says that operating its own locomotives and staff provides cost benefits and greater flexibility. “And that means one thing above all: the best quality for our customers.”

ÖBB points to the strategic position of the Netherlands as a factor that made the acquisition an attractive step. There are direct connections between the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, as well as important terminals in Geleen and Moerdijk, to the German hinterland.

In addition to the acquisition of Captrain Netherlands, RCG already operates fixed connections between Linz and Rotterdam, Wolfurt and Rotterdam and Linz – Antwerp.

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