DB Cargo and DB InfraGO increase rail capacity due to low Rhine water levels

DB InfraGO and DB Cargo are implementing measures to increase rail freight capacity in response to low water levels on the Rhine, which have restricted inland shipping.

DB InfraGO has established a central coordination system led by Yvonne Bounin to assist railway companies in shifting transports from waterways to rail. Companies can use the ‘Via Libera’ tool to view available tracks along the Rhine. Additionally, the company is reviewing whether construction and maintenance schedules can be adjusted to free up more capacity.

To support this shift, DB Cargo plans to reactivate hundreds of older freight wagons. The company stated that its own fleet of approximately 82,000 wagons is already equipped with ‘whisper brakes’ made of composite material, which reduce noise levels. This equipment allows the wagons to meet noise protection regulations, such as those implemented in December 2024, without the need for additional retrofitting. Reports suggest that up to 900 stored wagons could be mobilized, with roughly 300 available in the short term.