What SBBCargo does

SBB Cargo AG is Switzerland's primary rail freight operator and a division of state-owned Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), headquartered in Olten under CEO Désirée Baer. Founded in 1999 and wholly owned by the Swiss Confederation through its parent SBB, the company transports approximately 160,000 tonnes of goods daily, handles roughly one-eighth (12.5%) of Swiss national freight, and replaces an estimated 14,000 daily truck journeys with rail capacity — a footprint it markets against an 80% CO2 reduction versus equivalent road transport. Operations are concentrated in Western Europe (primarily Switzerland), with international extensions executed via SBB Cargo International and partner railways.

The company generates revenue across five core streams: wagonload traffic (Wagenladungsverkehr), full train services (Ganzzüge, including Cargo Train Fix and Cargo Train Flex), combined/intermodal transport (Kombinierter Verkehr via CombiLink), rolling stock maintenance, and rolling stock rental — supplemented by ancillary services such as shunting, customs clearance, and terminal operations (notably at Dietikon). Pricing is structured in three tiers (WagenFix annual subscription, WagenSpot transaction-based, WagenPlus quote-based), with exact pricing disclosed only via direct customer contracts. Dedicated subsidiary ChemOil Logistics AG addresses chemical and hazardous-materials transport. Customer concentration is anchored in industrial and manufacturing firms as the primary segment, with additional exposure to logistics service providers, chemical operators, and corporate travel management — a horizontal segmentation served through a sales-led GTM combining direct enterprise account management and a digital self-service portal.

The technology stack centers on SBB Cargo Digital (a B2B self-service portal for booking, documentation, and account management) and eRechnung electronic invoicing (PDF, XML, ASCII delivery via FTP with optional PGP encryption). No public API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. Marketing emphasizes sustainability credentials and runs primarily through the corporate website, the SBB Cargo Blog, LinkedIn, and direct email communications. Governance reflects the parent entity: SBB Cargo AG sits within the state-owned SBB group with no external equity, no funding rounds, and no disclosed M&A activity in the input data.

Name

SBBCargo

Legal name

SBB Cargo AG

Website

https://sbbcargo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SBB Cargo AG is Switzerland's primary rail freight operator and a division of state-owned Swiss Federal Railways, transporting approximately 160,000 tonnes of goods daily. It serves B2B customers across industrial, logistics, and chemical sectors with wagonload, full-train, and intermodal rail transport services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Olten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wagonload Traffic (Wagenladungsverkehr): Core rail freight service transporting individual wagons and wagon groups for customers across Switzerland. Revenue generated through transport fees based on distance, weight, and cargo type.
2. Full Train Services (Ganzzüge): Dedicated full train services for customers requiring large-volume transportation. Contracts typically negotiated for regular dedicated train paths.
3. Combined Transport (Kombinierter Verkehr): Multimodal transport solutions combining rail with road or other modes, including transshipment services at terminals. Revenue from transport and handling fees.
4. Rolling Stock Maintenance: Maintenance and repair services for rail freight wagons and rolling stock operated by SBB Cargo.
5. Rolling Stock Rental: Rental of locomotives and freight wagons to customers requiring equipment without ownership.
6. WagenStandgeld (Wagon Standing Fees): Fees charged for wagons stationary at terminals or customer facilities, with seasonal rate structures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SBB Cargo AG operates Switzerland's primary rail freight network, offering wagonload traffic, full train services (Cargo Train Fix and Cargo Train Flex), and combined/intermodal transport solutions (CombiLink and Kombinierter Verkehr). It supplements these core transport services with rolling stock maintenance and rental, shunting, customs clearance, and terminal handling. Customers manage operations through the SBB Cargo Digital portal and receive electronic invoices via eRechnung.

Product overview

SBB Cargo AG operates as Switzerland's primary rail freight operator, transporting approximately 160,000 tonnes of goods daily and handling one-eighth of national freight traffic. The company offers a portfolio of transport services centered around three core offerings: Wagenladungsverkehr (single wagon load traffic) for smaller shipments, Ganzzüge (full train services) including Cargo Train Fix and Cargo Train Flex for dedicated block trains, and Kombinierter Verkehr/CombiLink (combined transport) for intermodal rail solutions. These are supported by ancillary services including rolling stock maintenance, equipment rental, shunting, customs clearance, and terminal handling. Digital operations are facilitated through SBB Cargo Digital for online business management and eRechnung for electronic invoicing in multiple formats. The offering emphasizes environmental sustainability, saving 80% CO2 compared to road transport and removing 14,000 truck journeys from Swiss roads daily.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBB Cargo International: International cargo operations subsidiary

Products and services

• Wagenladungsverkehr (Single Wagon Load Traffic) Rail freight transport of individual wagons or wagon groups, allowing customers to ship smaller quantities of freight via the Swiss rail network. Priced per wagon (including WagenFix, WagenSpot, WagenPlus tiers and underlying Cargo Rail / Cargo Express schemes).
• Cargo Train Fix Fixed-schedule block train service for reliable, predictable freight transport along established rail corridors, targeted at customers requiring large-volume shipments under regular service patterns.
• Cargo Train Flex Flexible block train service offering greater scheduling adaptability compared to the fixed Cargo Train Fix option, for customers needing dedicated train capacity with variable timing.
• CombiLink (Combined Transport) Integrated transport solution combining rail and transshipment operations for seamless multimodal logistics, replacing the previous 'Bahn und Umschlag' product description and offering flexible transport options with efficient handling processes.
• Kombinierter Verkehr / KV (Combined Transport) Intermodal transport combining rail with other modes (notably road), including terminal handling, storage, and electrical power supply services at designated terminals.
• Cargo Express Schweiz Express freight service within Switzerland offering rapid transport of goods domestically.
• Cargo Rail Schweiz Standard rail freight service for domestic transport within Switzerland.
• Cargo Rail International International rail freight transport service extending beyond Swiss borders through partner railways.
• Instandhaltung SBB Cargo (Rolling Stock Maintenance) Maintenance and repair services for rail freight wagons and rolling stock, ensuring operational reliability and safety compliance, also offered to external railway companies ('Services für Bahnunternehmen').
• Vermietung von Rollmaterial (Rolling Stock Rental) Rental of locomotives and freight wagons to customers requiring equipment for their freight operations without owning the assets.
• SBB Cargo Digital Digital customer portal enabling business customers to manage freight transport operations online, providing booking, tracking, documentation, and administrative functions for daily freight operations.
• eRechnung (Electronic Invoicing) Electronic invoicing service delivering invoices in PDF, XML, ASCII, and E-Mail formats via secure FTP, with optional PGP encryption for data security to corporate clients.
• ChemOil Logistics (Dangerous Goods Transport) Specialized dangerous goods (chemical and oil) rail transport and logistics services offered through SBB Cargo's wholly-owned subsidiary ChemOil Logistics AG, including specialized handling, regulatory compliance, and terminal operations for hazardous materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transports 160,000 tonnes of goods daily through Switzerland
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UIC (International Union of Railways)coreTechnology or IntegrationSBB Cargo aligns its safety regulations with UIC loading guidelines. The company transitioned its safety provisions to follow UIC standards for load safety in freight operations.
• Trainline Partner SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership to expand corporate rail travel offerings across Europe. Collaboration integrates additional rail carriers in Italy and Spain into Trainline's booking system for business customers.
• Swile TravelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership expansion with Trainline Partner Solutions to provide corporate rail travel across Europe. Offers businesses sustainable travel alternatives and expanded domestic/international routes.
• Partner RailwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with international partner railways for cross-border freight transport. SBB Cargo International handles international rail freight operations in collaboration with partner railway companies.
• ChemOil Logistics AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company specializing in chemical and oil logistics services. Part of SBB Cargo's specialized service offerings for hazardous materials transport.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DB Cargo: DB Cargo is Deutsche Bahn's rail freight subsidiary and Europe's largest rail freight operator. It directly parallels SBB Cargo's wagonload, block train, and intermodal offerings across a broader European network.
• BLS Cargo: BLS Cargo operates rail freight services through Switzerland and into neighboring countries, directly competing with SBB Cargo on key domestic and Alpine transit corridors.
• SBB Cargo International: International cargo subsidiary of SBB providing cross-border rail freight services. While organizationally linked to SBB Cargo, it operates a comparable rail freight model across European corridors.
• Rail Cargo Group: ÖBB's rail freight division in Austria, offering single-wagon, block train, and combined transport services across Central and Eastern Europe. Operates an analogous state-owned rail freight model to SBB Cargo.
• Fret SNCF: French national rail freight operator providing wagonload, intermodal, and combined transport services. A direct state-owned European peer with similar service portfolio and modal-shift mandate.
• CFL Cargo: Luxembourg-based rail freight operator with cross-border European operations, comparable in offering wagonload and combined transport services alongside SBB Cargo's Swiss and European services.
• PKP Cargo: Poland's state-owned rail freight operator, the largest in the EU by volume. Comparable business model combining wagonload, intermodal, and rolling stock services across a national network.

Broad incumbents

• Trenitalia: Italy's primary state-owned rail group with a passenger-led portfolio that includes freight and logistics operations. Comparable as a state-owned rail incumbent but with broader scope than SBB Cargo's freight focus.
• Greenbrier: North American manufacturer and lessor of rail freight rolling stock. Adjacent to SBB Cargo's maintenance and rental services, with comparable exposure to freight rail equipment demand cycles.

Emerging players

• VTG AG: European rail freight wagon leasing and logistics company. Comparable to SBB Cargo's rolling stock rental business and serves overlapping customers seeking freight wagon capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbbcargo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbb-cargo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbbcargodeutschlandgmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SBBCargo