Kombiverkehr, a leading player in Germany's Combined Transport sector, has reported a challenging financial year for 2023. The company faced a 15.9% decline in transported volumes, moving 815,467 truckloads — equivalent to 1.63 million TEUs — from road to rail. This drop highlights the ongoing pressures from rising operational costs and policy changes in Germany's transport sector.
Kombiverkehr's turnover for 2023 reached €435.2 million, down from the previous year, with the company posting a net loss of €332,000 after taxes. The drop in volumes was attributed to several factors, including increased train path charges, reduced subsidies, and operational disruptions due to infrastructure upgrades and strikes.
Despite these challenges, Kombiverkehr managed to keep its services running without major disruptions through strategic network control and digital initiatives. The company's performance was underpinned by close cooperation with service partners, maintaining stability in April and May 2024 with some routes experiencing volume increases compared to the same period the previous year.
The broader economic context also played a role, with Germany and Europe experiencing significant production declines. These declines, coupled with unpredictable service quality and extensive engineering works on German infrastructure, strained the delivery of intermodal transport services. Punctuality rates varied widely, dipping below 50% in several months, impacting forwarders' planning and operations.
Higher costs for traction services and production diversions added to the operational burdens. The situation was compounded by labor disputes in France and Germany and disruptions such as the closure of the Gotthard base tunnel. The reduction in train path price subsidies further complicated the financial landscape for Combined Transport.
Looking ahead, Kombiverkehr anticipates continued challenges, particularly with planned corridor upgrades set to impact costs significantly. The company highlighted the disparity in financial support, with passenger transport receiving subsidies for corridor upgrades while freight transport does not. The increased train path prices scheduled for 2025 will further escalate costs, potentially doubling them and adding pressure on Combined Transport during an already difficult economic period.
In response to these pressures, Kombiverkehr is exploring alternatives for service purchases to manage rising costs. However, finding market-driven solutions in a short timeframe remains a significant hurdle. The company's leadership has engaged in discussions with government officials seeking transitional support, but so far, these efforts have not yielded results.
New service routes are also on the horizon, including expanded connections to Benelux and Southeast Europe. These include a new route between Köln-Eifeltor and Rotterdam and an upcoming direct link between Belgium and Spain. Additionally, the integration of the Niš terminal in Serbia marks a strategic expansion in Southeast Europe.
Key Kombiverkehr Figures for 2023:
- Total Truckloads Transported: 815,467
- International Truckloads: 628,611
- National Truckloads: 186,856
- Total Consignment Volume in TEU: 1.63 million
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions Saved: 1.19 million tonnes
- Transport Volume in Gross Tonnes: 19.11 million
- Average Transport Distance: 832 km
- Goods Volume in Tonne-Kilometers: 15.89 billion
- Sales: €435.2 million
- Employees: 150
Kombiverkehr offers over 170 train departures nightly, providing over 15,000 connections across Europe. Owned by 230 national and international forwarders and transport companies and DB Cargo AG, Kombiverkehr shifted over 815,000 truck consignments to rail in 2023.
