Intermodal alternatives for road and bridge closures: DB Cargo FLS avoids burner jams

Long road and bridge closures occur time and again in Germany and Europe - with a major impact on transport and logistics chains. A current example from South Tyrol is the Lueg Bridge:

Due to the renovation of the bridge along the A13 motorway from January 2025, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The effects will be far-reaching, especially for the heavily frequented connection to and from Italy. Driving bans, block clearance and departure bans threaten to massively delay supply chains by road. DB Cargo Full Load Solutions (FLS) offers an answer to this: intermodal connections that enable flexible and plannable transport - door-to-door without traffic jams, roadworks or additional environmental pollution.

The Brenner problem

The Brenner route is one of the most important connections for European freight transport. The construction work on the Lueg Bridge, which will last until 2027, will result in far-reaching restrictions:

• Single lane traffic guidance in both directions.
• Block clearance and daily driving bans.
• Significant delays and cost increases for road transport.

These obstacles pose a serious problem for companies that depend on reliable supply chains. The bridge is just one of many current examples in Germany and Europe. In Germany alone, 55% of all bridges have reached or exceeded their average service life of around 70 years and need to be replaced. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, up to 400 bridges are to be renovated every year. This almost always means significant restrictions for road traffic, such as the now demolished Rahmede Bridge on the Sauerlandlinie motorway (A45).

The solution: Intermodal connections from DB Cargo FLS

DB Cargo FLS offers a flexible full truckload solution that successfully combines rail and road. The intermodal connections ensure high planning reliability and flexibility thanks to multiple daily departures. Customers benefit from fast, reliable transport operations that operate independently of traffic disruptions on the Brenner route or other connections. "Our network of intermodal connections is not only a solution for the current challenges, but also a viable and sustainable alternative for the entire logistics industry," emphasises DB Cargo FLS.

Technical details and advantages

DB Cargo FLS offers a variety of solutions with different loading space options, such as

• Standard and MEGA tautliners with a payload of up to 28 tonnes.
• Plannable capacities thanks to high availability.
• Environmentally friendly transport with reduced CO₂ emissions.

An additional advantage: using rail for longer sections of the route makes it possible to reduce toll charges and optimise transport costs in the long term. Local experts on site develop customised concepts for intelligent door-to-door solutions on this basis.

Intermodal connections between economic centres in Germany and Europe

The DB Cargo FLS network currently comprises ten main routes and connects many countries and regions in circulation:

• Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands (BENE) to Italy v.v.
• Sweden to Germany and BENE v.v.
• Germany and BENE to South-East Europe v.v.
• Germany to Turkey v.v.

Some of these routes guarantee a reliable connection between southern Germany and Italy - an ideal solution for companies that want to proactively meet the challenges on the Brenner route.

Future prospects

The construction work on the Brenner motorway underlines the urgency of sustainable and robust logistics solutions. Intermodal transport is not just an alternative for the current challenges, but a future-proof strategy for making supply chains more resilient and environmentally friendly. DB Cargo FLS is setting new standards for reliable and sustainable transport - now and in the future.