RBH Logistics

What RBH Logistics does

RBH Logistics GmbH is a German private rail freight operator headquartered in Gladbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, and a 100% subsidiary of DB Cargo AG (the rail freight arm of Deutsche Bahn). Founded in 1913 as the Königliche Zechenbahn (Royal Colliery Railway), the company was incorporated in 1993 as RAG Bahn und Hafen Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, renamed RBH GmbH in 2004, and acquired by DB Schenker Rail (now DB Cargo) in 2005. Operating across public, non-public, and in-plant railway infrastructure in Germany and the Netherlands, RBH serves industrial customers with whole-train freight (Ganzzug), combined/intermodal transport (KV), regional connections, hazardous liquid goods in tank wagons, bulk goods (ore, sand, coal, aggregates), waste disposal, and automotive logistics. The company runs 32 owned locomotives (8 diesel, 24 electric) plus 46 rented units, achieved an annual volume of 17.91 million tonnes and 7,315 million tonne-kilometers, and holds ISO 9001, SQAS, TÜV Süd Rail, DVS, and Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certifications plus a unified safety certificate for Germany and the Netherlands.

The technology stack is rail-operations oriented rather than software-product oriented. A high-tech train driving simulator (Fahrsimulator) at the Duisburg training center, opened in 2019, trains locomotive drivers on ETCS, LZB, PZB, EBuLa, and disturbance management scenarios. The Duisburg facility also houses the RBH Kompetenzcenter, which delivers train driver qualification under §47 EBO, RFU continuing education for locomotive drivers, wagon inspectors (Wagenprüfer), brake test authorized personnel (Bremsprobenberechtigte), and competency assessments. Customer-facing infrastructure consists of the RailCube Cloud customer portal for order management and account administration. Legacy fleet disposal is monetized through the sale of used E 143 (BR 143) and E 145 (BR 145) electric locomotives. No public APIs, SDKs, MCP, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

RBH's revenue model combines transaction-fee rail freight services (the dominant stream), one-time sales of used locomotives, and professional-services revenue from training and competency assessment. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales via the in-house Angebotsplanung (offer planning) team, supported by direct customer relationships, partnerships for shunting and train driver staffing, and cross-promotion through the DB Cargo network. Segment focus spans chemical/petroleum (hazardous liquids), mining and construction materials (ore, coal, aggregates), waste management, and automotive — with industrial rail freight customers as the primary horizontal segment. Notable disclosed customers/partners include Dettmer Rail, Tankmatch Rail, and Lokofracht, and the company holds consecutive TOP Arbeitgeber Mittelstand awards (2022–2025) and a Kununu Top Company 2022 designation.

Name

RBH Logistics

Legal name

RBH Logistics GmbH

Website

https://rbh-logistics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RBH Logistics is a German private rail freight operator and DB Cargo AG subsidiary providing whole-train, intermodal, hazardous goods, bulk and waste transport, plus locomotive driver training, to industrial customers in Germany and the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gladbeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Rail Freight Transport Services: Core revenue from rail freight transport including Ganzzug (full trainload), combined/intermodal transport, regional connections, hazardous goods, bulk goods, and waste disposal services. Transport services are provided on public, non-public, and in-plant railway infrastructure.
2. Locomotive Sales: Sale of used electric locomotives from their fleet, including E 143 (BR 143) and E 145 (BR 145) series locomotives with detailed technical specifications and purchase inquiry processes.
3. Training and Continuing Education Services: RBH Kompetenzcenter provides professional training including train driver qualification, LZB certification, regular continuing education (RFU) for train drivers, wagon inspectors, and brake test authorized personnel, as well as simulator training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RBH Logistics is a private rail freight operator providing rail-based transport services including whole-train (Ganzzug) transport, combined/intermodal transport, regional connections, hazardous goods, bulk goods, and waste disposal transport. As a 100% subsidiary of DB Cargo AG, the company operates on public, non-public, and in-plant railway infrastructure in Germany and the Netherlands. It also sells used electric locomotives and operates a training division (RBH Kompetenzcenter) for train drivers and railway personnel.

Product overview

RBH Logistics is a rail freight transport company offering a unified portfolio of logistics services centered on rail transport. Core offerings include whole-train freight transport (Ganzzugverkehr), combined transport, regional connections, hazardous goods, bulk goods, and waste transportation services. The company also provides locomotive sales (E 145 and E 143 electric locomotives), competency assessment services for railway personnel, and an extensive training division (RBH Kompetenzcenter) offering locomotive driver training, continuing education for locomotive drivers, wagon inspectors, and brake test personnel, as well as a driving simulator in Duisburg. Training programs align with §47 EBO requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RBH Kompetenzcenter: Internal training and education division of RBH Logistics offering rail-specific professional development, train driver qualification, and simulator training.

Products and services

• Gütertransport per Bahn (Rail Freight Transport) Core rail freight transport service offering whole-train transport (Ganzzugverkehr), combined/intermodal transport, regional connections, hazardous goods, bulk goods, and waste disposal transportation for industrial customers in Germany and the Netherlands.
• Angebotsplanung (Offer Planning) Quote planning and transport consultation service that accompanies customers from inquiry to transport execution.
• Zusammenarbeit (Collaboration/Partnerships) Partnership services including shunting specialists, locomotive driver staffing, and collaborative logistics solutions for railway operations.
• Betriebliche Kompetenzfeststellung von Betriebspersonal Professional competency assessment service for railway personnel including wagon inspectors, shunting personnel, and locomotive drivers using the company's driving simulator.
• Verkauf (Locomotive Sales) Sale of used electric locomotives including E 145 and E 143 series locomotives from the company's fleet inventory.
• E 143 Elektrolokomotive (BR 143) Four-axle electric locomotive (BR 143) for 15 kV 16.7 Hz, manufactured by LEW Henningsdorf (1987-1991) with 3720 kW power, 240 kN max tractive effort, and 120 km/h maximum speed, available for sale.
• E 145 Elektrolokomotive (BR 145) Four-axle electric locomotive (BR 145) with modern AC drive technology for 15 kV 16.7 Hz, manufactured by AdTranz/Bombardier (1998-2000) with 4200 kW power, 300 kN max tractive effort, and 140 km/h maximum speed, available for sale.
• Triebfahrzeugausbildung (Locomotive Driver Training) Locomotive driver training program covering basic training and series expansion, tailored to individual knowledge levels and compliant with §47 EBO, delivered via the RBH Kompetenzcenter.
• Linienförmige Zugbeeinflussung (LZB) Training Linear train control system training covering LZB functionality, expansion stages up to LZB-CIR ELKE II, and safe handling in normal and fault conditions.
• RFU für Triebfahrzeugführer (Continuing Education for Locomotive Drivers) Continuing education for locomotive drivers covering current signal systems, hazardous goods transport, incident management, and regulatory changes.
• RFU für Wagenprüfer (Continuing Education for Wagon Inspectors) Continuing education for wagon inspectors covering current inspection procedures, safety standards, critical defect recognition, and documentation requirements.
• RFU für Bremsprobenberechtigte (Continuing Education for Brake Test Personnel) Continuing education for brake test authorized persons covering current brake technologies, error identification, brake test procedures, and documentation.
• Fahrsimulator (Train Driving Simulator) High-tech train simulator in Duisburg offering realistic scenario training including railway crossings, signal systems, radio communication, ETCS, LZB, PZB, EBuLa, and disturbance management, used for training, continuing education, and performance monitoring of train drivers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual transport volume of 17.91 million tonnes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DB Cargo AGcoreOthersRBH Logistics is a 100% subsidiary of DB Cargo AG (formerly DB Schenker Rail Deutschland AG, acquired in 2005). As part of the DB Cargo group, RBH operates as an independent rail freight company leveraging the DB Cargo network for operations and resources including compliance systems and HR infrastructure.
• Dettmer RailminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRail logistics customer with testimonial endorsement highlighting reliable freight transport services and partnership relationship.
• Tankmatch RailminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRail logistics customer utilizing coordinated train operations services with reliable performance.
• LokofrachtminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRail logistics customer receiving tailored transport solutions and rail logistics services.
• Shunting Specialists (Rangierspezialisten)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner companies providing shunting services for first and last mile railway operations as part of collaborative logistics network.
• Train Driver Staffing Service ProvidersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService providers supplying train driver personnel for RBH operations as part of workforce partnership arrangements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TX Logistik: Trenitalia-owned private rail freight operator active in Germany and neighboring countries with combined transport, automotive and bulk flows — directly comparable to RBH because it offers the same B2B rail freight product mix targeting industrial shippers.
• SBB Cargo Deutschland: German subsidiary of Swiss SBB Cargo offering line-haul rail freight, combined/intermodal and shunting services — directly comparable to RBH because it competes for the same German wagon-load and single-wagon industrial customers.
• Captrain Deutschland: Captrain (formerly Veolia Cargo Deutschland) operates private rail freight and shunting services in Germany and Europe — directly comparable to RBH because it competes for the same hazardous, chemical and bulk industrial rail traffic with its own locomotive fleet.
• HAVELLÄNDISCHE EISENBAHN (HVLE): Berlin-based private rail freight operator running block trains, automotive and combined transport — directly comparable to RBH because it is a similarly sized German private EVU competing for industrial freight with its own locomotive fleet.
• RheinCargo: Rhine-Ruhr port- and rail-based freight operator offering combined, bulk and hazardous goods rail transport — directly comparable to RBH because it operates overlapping heavy/bulk and tank-wagon flows from the same German industrial geography.
• BoxXpress.de: German private intermodal/container rail operator running domestic and cross-border shuttle trains — directly comparable to RBH because it targets the same combined-transport and intermodal flows that RBH launched in 2015.
• LTE (LTE Logistics & Transport Europe): Austrian-owned private rail freight group operating across Central Europe with full-train, combined, hazardous and shunting services — directly comparable to RBH because it competes head-to-head on cross-border Germany/Netherlands industrial flows.

Broad incumbents

• DB Cargo AG: Parent company and Europe's largest rail freight operator; directly comparable to RBH because it operates the same line-haul freight rail network across Germany and into the Netherlands and is the dominant counterparty/competitor for industrial shipper volume.

Emerging players

• MRCE (Mitsui Rail Capital Europe): European locomotive leasing and rail traction provider — adjacent to RBH because, while it primarily leases locomotives rather than operates freight, it supplies traction to and competes for the same private operator pool that RBH participates in.

Others

• Dettmer Tankreederei / Dettmer Rail: Named customer and partner of RBH providing tank-wagon and rail logistics services; included as a peer because it sits one tier up in the same German rail-freight intermediary chain and represents the type of relationship RBH's commercial model depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rbh-logistics-gmbh

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 RBH Logistics