ČD Cargo
ČD Cargo is the largest Czech rail freight carrier and a subsidiary of state-owned České dráhy, transporting 57.8 million tons of industrial cargo annually across Central Europe via electric and diesel locomotives, serving manufacturing, energy, automotive, and agricultural enterprise customers with direct B2B sales and supplementary logistics services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersHolesovice, Czechia
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ČD Cargo does
ČD Cargo, a.s. is the freight logistics subsidiary of Czech state-owned railway operator České dráhy, a.s., and operates as the largest rail freight carrier in the Czech Republic. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Prague (Holešovice), the company employs 5,001–10,000 people and transported 57.8 million tons of goods in 2025. It runs a direct B2B sales model serving industrial and manufacturing customers across multiple commodity verticals — steel, machinery, construction materials, coal, chemicals, fuels, timber, agricultural products, and automobiles — supplemented by intermodal combined transport. The core technology base is rail freight infrastructure, including electric and diesel locomotives (more than 90% of operations run on electric traction), three Railway Vehicle Repair Centers (SOKV) in Ostrava, Ústí nad Labem, and České Budějovice, and a portfolio of operational digital tools (E-roza electronic dispatch, the ČDCgo customer application, and the SOČ NL/CNP applications portal) for shipment processing and tracking.
The business operates across multiple revenue streams: core rail freight transport (transaction-fee pricing), supplementary services such as logistics, customs representation, wagon rental, crane operations, siding services, exceptional and dangerous goods transport, and railway vehicle maintenance (professional-services pricing), plus a variable fuel surcharge published on the website. Pricing is individually negotiated with enterprise customers and is not publicly disclosed. Geographic coverage is anchored in Central Europe via wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and the Adriatic region, with a planned intra-group merger of ČD Cargo Adria into the parent. The company holds ISO Quality Management certification, operates a 24/7 Customer Service Center, and offers a differentiated "Green Energy" transport product tied to its predominantly electric fleet, positioning itself for shippers with decarbonization mandates.
ČD Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ČD Cargo
- Legal name
- ČD Cargo, a.s.
- Website
- https://cdcargo.cz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- ČD Cargo is the largest Czech rail freight carrier and a subsidiary of state-owned České dráhy, transporting 57.8 million tons of industrial cargo annually across Central Europe via electric and diesel locomotives, serving manufacturing, energy, automotive, and agricultural enterprise customers with direct B2B sales and supplementary logistics services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ČD Cargo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rail Freight Transport
- NAICS
- Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Rail Transportation (4821)
- SIC
- Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dry Bulk Rail Freight (Unit Trains) (TLADAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coal & Coke Transport (TLADAKAF), Agricultural Bulk Commodities Transport (Grain/Oilseeds/Feed) (TLADAKAD)
Keywords
Where ČD Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Holesovice
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
ČD Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Rail Freight Transport Services: Core revenue from rail freight transport of various commodities including steel products, machinery, construction materials, coal, chemicals, fuels, wood, agricultural products, automobiles, and special cargo
- Supplementary Rail Services: Additional services including logistics, customs representation, wagon rental, crane operations, siding services, transport of exceptional and dangerous goods, and rail vehicle maintenance
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Fuel surcharge rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ČD Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ČD Cargo is the largest Czech railway freight carrier, transporting approximately 57.8 million tons of goods annually across the Czech Republic and into Central and Southern Europe. It moves bulk and industrial commodities (steel, machinery, construction materials, coal, chemicals, fuels, timber, agricultural products, automobiles) via its electric and diesel locomotive fleet, supplemented by single wagon load services, intermodal combined transport, customs representation, wagon rental, crane operations, and railway vehicle repair.
Product overview
ČD Cargo operates as a comprehensive railway freight transport provider offering a portfolio of integrated services. The core offering consists of railway transport for various commodities and single wagon loads, supplemented by add-on modules including additional services (logistics, customs, crane work, siding), railway weighbridges, exceptional cargo transport, green energy transport, repair services, and training. The company also provides digital tools including the ČDCgo application and electronic dispatch systems. The business model is structured around a core rail transport service enhanced by supplementary operational and commercial services, serving both domestic and international markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Railway Transport (Železniční přeprava) Core railway freight transport service for commodities including steel, machinery, construction materials, coal, chemicals, fuels, timber, agricultural products, automobiles, and special consignments. Includes combined/intermodal transport with containers for domestic and international shipments.
- Single Wagon Loads (Jednotlivé vozové zásilky) Transportation of goods in individual wagon loads, offered as a discrete shipment service for customers who do not require full train loads.
- Additional Services (Doplňkové služby) Specialized transport and supplementary services including logistics, customs representation, wagon rental, crane work, siding services, transportation of exceptional and dangerous goods, and maintenance and repair of railway vehicles.
- Railway Weighbridges (Kolejové váhy) Operation of selected railway weighbridges on the Správa železnic (Railway Infrastructure Administration) network, providing weighing services for rail cargo.
- Transport of Exceptional Consignments (Přepravy mimořádných zásilek) Specialized transportation of oversized or extraordinary cargo shipments requiring specialized handling and route planning.
- Transport Powered by Green Energy (Přepravy na zelenou energii) Eco-friendly transport option using green energy for cargo shipments, supporting decarbonization of customers' supply chain transport operations.
- Repair Services (Opravárenství) Maintenance and repair of railway vehicles for ČD Cargo and external customers, performed at Repair Centers (SOKV) located in Ostrava, Ústí nad Labem, and České Budějovice.
- Training and Consultancy (Školení a poradenství) Accredited training center providing consulting services in railway transport safety system operations, in accordance with railway law conditions.
- ČDCgo Application Customer-facing digital application for managing shipments, accessing transport services, and interacting with ČD Cargo's logistics platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 57.8 million tons of goods transported in 2025
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ČD Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ČD Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ČD Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Správa železniccoreČD Cargo operates selected railway weighbridges on the Správa železnic (Railway Infrastructure Administration) network based on contractual relationship since August 2020
- České dráhy (Czech Railways)coreČD Cargo is part of the ČD Group (koncern). České dráhy a.s. is the controlling entity of the concern. ČD Cargo is the freight subsidiary of the state-owned Czech Railways group
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ČD Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rail Cargo Group (ÖBB): Austrian federal railways freight division with comparable cross-border operations into Central Europe, including direct overlap with ČD Cargo on Austria–Czech corridors. Similar product breadth (wagon load, intermodal, bulk, automotive).
- DB Cargo: Freight subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn and the largest rail freight operator in Europe. Directly comparable to ČD Cargo in scope of services (single wagon load, intermodal, bulk), Central European cross-border operations, and state-owned backing.
- PKP Cargo International: Former AWT, now a subsidiary of PKP Cargo, operating rail freight in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. A direct Central European competitor with overlapping commodity mix and customer base to ČD Cargo.
- SBB Cargo: Swiss national railway freight division with comparable single wagon load, intermodal, and bulk rail services, and a similar state-owned heritage focused on domestic and Alpine cross-border flows.
- PKP Cargo: Largest rail freight operator in Poland and a Central European competitor with similar commodity exposure (coal, aggregates, steel) and state-owned heritage. Comparable business model, customer mix, and capital intensity.
- Mercitalia (FS Group): Italian state-owned rail freight group operating bulk, intermodal, and logistics services. Comparable in being a state-owned national champion with cross-border ambitions; ČD Cargo's Adria subsidiary overlaps directly with Mercitalia's territory.
- Captrain: European rail freight operator owned by SNCF Group, operating in France, Germany, Benelux, Italy, and Central Europe. Comparable single wagon load and industrial freight business with cross-border network similar to ČD Cargo's footprint.
- Lineas: Largest private rail freight operator in Europe, headquartered in Belgium, with operations across Benelux, Germany, and France. Comparable in product breadth (single wagon load, intermodal, industrial freight) and customer segmentation.
Broad incumbents
- Fret SNCF: French national rail freight operator, part of SNCF Group. Directly comparable product set (wagon load, intermodal, automotive) but primarily France-focused; broader incumbent in the European rail freight landscape.
Regional players
- CFL Cargo: Luxembourg-based rail freight operator with cross-border services into France, Belgium, and Germany. Comparable single wagon load and intermodal business but smaller scale and geographically focused on the Greater Region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ČD Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceČD Cargo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ČD Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ČD Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ČD Cargo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
ČD Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ČD Cargo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ČD Cargo
What does ČD Cargo do?
ČD Cargo is the largest Czech railway freight carrier, transporting approximately 57.8 million tons of goods annually across the Czech Republic and into Central and Southern Europe. It moves bulk and industrial commodities (steel, machinery, construction materials, coal, chemicals, fuels, timber, agricultural products, automobiles) via its electric and diesel locomotive fleet, supplemented by single wagon load services, intermodal combined transport, customs representation, wagon rental, crane operations, and railway vehicle repair.
Is ČD Cargo a public or private company?
ČD Cargo is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was ČD Cargo founded?
ČD Cargo was founded in 2007. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is ČD Cargo based?
ČD Cargo is headquartered in Holesovice, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does ČD Cargo make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Rail Freight Transport Services are the primary driver. The others are supplementary Rail Services.
Who are ČD Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rail Cargo Group (ÖBB), DB Cargo, PKP Cargo International, SBB Cargo, PKP Cargo, Mercitalia (FS Group), Captrain and Lineas. Fret SNCF is listed as a broad incumbent. CFL Cargo is listed as a regional player.
Does ČD Cargo have an API?
No public API is recorded for ČD Cargo.
What industry is ČD Cargo in?
ČD Cargo's product category is Rail Freight Transport. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAKAB, Dry Bulk Rail Freight (Unit Trains), with a secondary code of TLADAKAF, Coal & Coke Transport. Its NAICS code is 482111 and its SIC code is 4011.