Helrom, the German rail operator focused on non-craneable semi-trailer transport, will be liquidated after a second insolvency process, Trasporto Europa informs.
The company’s patents, Trailer Rail wagons and other assets will pass to the insolvency administrator. The administrator will be responsible for selling the assets, either as a package to another operator or manufacturer, or separately.
Helrom first applied for preliminary insolvency proceedings at the Frankfurt court in July 2025. The company cited a shortage of equity after expected funds from existing shareholders did not materialise. At that time, Helrom kept its main services running and described the process as a restructuring.
The insolvency agreement was approved by the court in January 2026. Helrom exited the proceedings on 19 and 20 January with a new corporate structure, Helrom Holding Limited, and a new majority shareholder, the Hrg group. Greenbrier, Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing and Société Générale were also involved in the restructuring.
Dal and Société Générale had previously provided about EUR 67m in loans for the development of Helrom’s Trailer Rail fleet. The company also received a EUR 15m grant from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport for the market launch of its Trailer Rail technology.
Helrom’s system used articulated Trailer Rail wagons designed for horizontal loading of standard road semi-trailers without crane-equipped terminals. Each wagon consisted of two pockets mounted on three bogies and could carry three semi-trailers. Loading and unloading used a sideways tilting system at the terminal.
The company also secured long-term financing of about EUR 34m–35m from Société Générale and Deutsche Leasing/Dal for series production of the wagons. Less than five months after the January restructuring was completed, the company entered liquidation.
