On May 31, 2024, ÖBB Rail Cargo Group announced the acquisition of Captrain Netherlands, marking a significant step forward in its journey of internationalization and network expansion in the Benelux countries. The purchase agreement between Captrain Holding Paris (Sncf) and Rail Cargo Carrier was finalized without disclosing the sale price. Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, stated, "The expansion of the group continues, and after establishing subsidiaries in China and Serbia, we are now expanding our international network in the Netherlands. I am pleased to welcome the new colleagues to the ÖBB team. Together we will connect European economic centers with Europe's ports and thus with the whole world."
The Netherlands represents a strategically important point for freight rail transport due to its direct connections with the Ara ports (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam) towards Germany and the presence of key rail corridors and terminals such as Geleen and Moerdijk. Additionally, there is a strong interest in increasing the share of rail transport in line with climate goals. Clemens Först, CEO of RCG, emphasized, "The Benelux countries are an important market for us. With the expansion of our own traction network, we will be able to manage our TransFer connections end-to-end with our own traction in the future."
RCG already manages fixed-schedule TransFer connections, such as the Linz–Duisburg–Rotterdam route with four round trips per week, the Wolfurt–Rotterdam route with two round trips per week, and the Linz–Antwerp route, which operates almost daily to and from the Benelux countries, connecting Western Europe with Central, Southern, and Southeastern Europe.
Captrain Netherlands has been operating in the Netherlands since 2007, focusing on organizing and operating rail transport with an emphasis on the Geleen and Moerdijk terminals and the port of Rotterdam. The company employs 61 people and has a rolling stock fleet that includes seven locomotives for shunting and last-mile transport. In 2022, the company recorded a turnover of 12.2 million euros, producing 765 million ton-kilometers.
