SBB Cargo has extended its long-standing partnership with aluminium manufacturer Novelis for the continued transport of materials between Sierre (Switzerland) and Göttingen (Germany).
The supply chain involves regular shipments of ingots from Göttingen to Sierre, where they are processed into aluminium coils. These are then returned to Germany for further manufacturing, primarily in the automotive sector. A total of five to six round trips per week are scheduled, each with up to 36 wagons, operating over 48 weeks per year.
As part of the updated contract, SBB Cargo International will now handle the German section of the corridor. This replaces a previous arrangement involving a foreign operator. Locomotive changes are no longer required along the route, although a driver change will still take place at the border. Shunting operations in Sierre remain the responsibility of SBB Cargo Switzerland, using staff based in Sion.
The unified operation is expected to offer operational consistency and reduce interface risks. For Novelis, the rail link is part of a just-in-time production process that depends on schedule adherence and long-term planning stability. The continued use of rail supports the company's decarbonisation efforts by reducing reliance on long-distance road freight.
