CargoBeamer’s EUR 205M Bet: Can Rail Finally Overtake Road Freight?

CargoBeamer secures EUR 205 million in funding to expand its automated rail freight network, with new terminals in Germany and Italy set to drive the shift from road to rail.

CargoBeamer has successfully secured EUR 205 million in growth capital over the past year, reinforcing its mission to modernize freight transport by increasing the efficiency and sustainability of intermodal logistics. The funding includes:

• EUR 65 million in equity and debt financing from Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC).
• EUR 50 million from existing shareholders.
• EUR 90 million in government grants from the German Federal Railway Authority and the Swiss Federal Office of Transport.

The investment will be used to construct two new intermodal terminals in Kaldenkirchen, Germany, and Domodossola, Italy, enhancing CargoBeamer’s ability to seamlessly transfer semi-trailers from road to rail using its proprietary automated technology. Construction is set to begin in 2025, with completion expected in 2026.

CargoBeamer Secures €65 Million to Expand European Rail Freight Network //t.co/PBxZxPQXFv

— Shohei Sakazaki (@Sho434Q) February 10, 2025

Revolutionizing Freight Logistics with Automation

CargoBeamer’s automated handling system enables semi-trailers to be loaded onto freight trains in just 20 minutes, making it nine times faster than conventional crane-operated terminals.

By shifting freight from road to rail, CargoBeamer’s system:

• Reduces carbon emissions by 85% compared to diesel trucking.
• Eases congestion on major European highways.
• Addresses the growing shortage of truck drivers.

The demand for sustainable freight solutions is rapidly growing, with the European mid- and long-distance transport market projected to be worth EUR 88 billion by 2032. The two upcoming terminals in Germany and Italy will strengthen CargoBeamer’s logistics corridor across Europe, linking key freight hubs in Germany, Italy, and France.  These sites will join CargoBeamer’s existing terminal in Calais, France, which was inaugurated in 2021. "CargoBeamer’s proprietary technology will be instrumental in enabling the road-to-rail freight transition, which aligns with our objective to build cost-advantaged logistics solutions that enhance decarbonization efforts," said Jeremy Glick, Investment Partner and Head of Infra Growth at OIC.

CargoBeamer CEO Nicolas Albrecht pointed out the importance of this investment in advancing sustainable freight logistics: "We are excited for our capital partnership with OIC, which lays the foundation for making CargoBeamer the intermodal champion driving the modal shift of freight from road to rail. Our terminals in Kaldenkirchen and Domodossola are perfectly placed along Europe’s most-frequented intermodal corridor, and the unmatched speed and efficiency of our rail connections will be instrumental in shifting freight at scale."

Source: CargoBeamer Press Release