CargoBeamer to boost modal shift to rail freight transport

Berlin. Different federal governments over the last decades have tried to get freight transport shifted from the roads to the railways. The current conservative-liberal coalition’s strategy on sustainability stipulates a market share of 25 percent for rail freight transport by 2015. When it comes to the technical problems of shifting freight to rail – regardless of all politicking – there is now a revolutionary solution available. On Monday in Leipzig, CargoBeamer AG presented a technical system to the specialist public that could make around 60 percent of all HGV journeys on German motorways unnecessary. “For rail freight transport, this new technology is like bright sunlight at the end of the tunnel,” said Dirk Flege, managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, which is providing political support to the EU-funded project. “The CargoBeamer technology will finally teach trucks how to use the railways.”

The opening of the first terminal in Leipzig was received with great interest. Transport politicians from Europe and Germany, experts from DB Schenker Rail and representatives from the combined transport sector took part in a dress rehearsal. Trials starting in November between Leipzig and Lithuania will show whether the new technology can deliver what it promises: to make rail freight transport not only faster but also cheaper than it currently is by road.