DB Cargo Nederland joins cooperation pilot in the port of Rotterdam
- May 25
- 1 min read
Six rail operators active in the port of Rotterdam have signed a new operational cooperation agreement aimed at improving efficiency and reliability on the port railway network.
The companies involved are Rail Force One, HSL Netherlands, DB Cargo Nederland, RTB Cargo, LTE and Rail Cargo Group. The agreement was signed under the coordination of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
The initiative operates under the name “Track Together” and allows participating rail companies to temporarily take over each other’s train operations during capacity shortages or operational disruptions. The goal is to minimise train cancellations, reduce delays and improve the flexibility of freight rail services within Europe’s largest port.
Under the agreement, operators can react more quickly to timetable disruptions and stabilise rail traffic by using shared operational capacity. The cooperation also creates an emergency framework that enables trains to continue running even during unexpected disruptions.
Port terminals are also expected to benefit from the project. In case of operational issues, railway tracks can be cleared more efficiently, helping scheduled services continue with minimal interruption.
The project officially started on 1 April 2026 as a seven month pilot programme. Operations are coordinated through a specially developed digital platform called “PortFlow”, which is used for booking and managing train movements. During the pilot phase, the participating companies, app developer and port authority will evaluate the cooperation on a monthly basis.
According to the partners involved, this is the first structured operational cooperation of its kind between multiple railway companies in the port of Rotterdam. The long term objective is to make railway operations in the port safer, more efficient and more reliable.
Image source: dbcargo.com
