ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has started operating its Duisburg–Antwerp and Linz–Antwerp freight services in own traction, using its own locomotives and train crews on the cross-border routes between Germany and Belgium.
The change follows the granting of a Belgian safety certificate in 2025, allowing RCG to run services under its own responsibility in Belgium. With the move, both Antwerp corridors are now operated end-to-end by RCG, while shunting operations in the Port of Antwerp continue to be handled by a local partner.
RCG has also increased capacity on its Duisburg–Antwerp service by raising weekly round trips from two to three. The connection links the Rhine-Ruhr industrial region with the ports of Antwerp and Ghent and provides access to deep-sea shipping services.
The route is used for conventional wagonload traffic as well as containers between 20 and 45 feet. According to the operator, demand has been growing, particularly from the chemical and paper industries.
The transit time on the Duisburg–Antwerp service is around 7.5 hours, with dangerous goods (RID) also accepted for transport.
