24. February 2026, 10:56 o'Clock
Czech Republic
Article: DB Cargo Czechia: A strong partner in the heart of Europe
The Czech national company is driving forward the transformation of DB Cargo with a central hub function, seamless cross-border transport and a growing product portfolio.
DB Cargo Czechia s.r.o. is the Czech subsidiary of DB Cargo AG and an increasingly important part of DB Cargo's international rail freight transport operations. With its focus on seamless, cross-border transport and networked logistics solutions, it plays a decisive role in the transformation process of the pan-European network.
Management and strategic orientation
Jan Rajnoch, Chairman of the Management Board DB Cargo Czechia
Jan Rajnoch has been CEO of DB Cargo Czechia since May 2023 and has led the company through continuous development and strategic expansion in rail freight transport. Under his leadership, DB Cargo Czechia has strengthened its international presence and expanded its operational capabilities in key Central European markets.Jan has been with DB Cargo Czechia since its foundation in 2015 and has held several senior positions, including project manager, sales manager or certified rail safety manager for Austria. In this role, he played a central role in the company's market entry into Slovakia and Austria.
Strongly positioned in the heart of Europe
DB Cargo Czechia has been part of DB Cargo's European network as an independent company for 10 years now. The company has a cross-border safety certificate that enables it to operate trains independently and safely in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. With modern interoperable locomotives of the 189 and 193 series (Vectron), DB Cargo Czechia ensures Europe-wide transport operations - without locomotive changeovers at the border.The Czech Republic's geostrategic location between the Elbe and Danube rivers and the central European economic axes makes it a core market for continental rail freight transport. Two factors are particularly decisive here:
- Central location on European freight corridors: The Czech Republic is located on the European Baltic-Adriatic and Rhine-Danube freight corridors and thus acts as a connecting element between northern, southern and south-eastern Europe.
- Strong industrial location: The Czech Republic is one of the most important production and export locations in Europe, particularly in the mechanical engineering and automotive industry. These industrial value chains depend on efficient and reliable rail freight transport to transport large volumes efficiently and sustainably across Europe.
High-frequency shuttle trains through the Czech Republic
A key growth driver for DB Cargo Czechia is the expansion of efficient north-south connections. Together with its sister companies DB Cargo Polska and DB Cargo FLS Italia, the national company is developing high-frequency transport routes from the Baltic States via the Czech Republic and Austria to Italy. This network is supplemented by co-operations with partners, which further strengthens the trade axis.
DB Cargo Czechia manages these runs itself throughout - from traction to operational handling. This enables direct cross-border transport without locomotive changeovers or system disruptions. For customers, this means reliable transport, short transit times and integrated logistics services from a single source. This makes DB Cargo Czechia an essential building block in DB Cargo's European production and distribution network.
Slovakia Shuttle and the Pardubice hub
One example of the further development of the network is the Slovakia Shuttle between Žilina, Ostrava and Halle. Since 2021, the product has created an efficient connection between Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany and closely links central industrial and logistics regions to the European DB Cargo network.
The Pardubice hub plays a key role in this, acting as a central hub for the bundling, distribution and forwarding of transport in the Czech Republic together with the Ostrava hub in the east. The Pardubice site strengthens the single wagon network structure, particularly in the central Czech Republic, and enables new, attractive routes for customers from industry and trade.
EffiShunter as a driver for flexible traffics
The "EffiShunter 1000" diesel engine from DB Cargo Czechia
The modernisation of the fleet also supports the transformation of DB Cargo Czechia. With the new "EffiShunter 1000" diesel engine, the company is specifically expanding its traction options, particularly for single wagonload transport on ETCS routes.
In future, the EffiShunter will primarily take on first and last mile services, thus ensuring efficient connections to industrial tracks, terminals and hubs. DB Cargo Czechia is thus creating additional flexibility for customers and at the same time strengthening the competitiveness of single wagonload transport in an international context.
Broad service portfolio for diverse customer needs
DB Cargo Czechia offers a comprehensive range of services that is particularly attractive for industrial and logistics customers in Central and Eastern Europe:
- Block trains for high volume flows
- Combined transport along the Baltic-Adriatic corridor
- Flexible single wagonload transport
- Shunting services in the Ostrava region
- Logistics and forwarding services
- Industrial railway and track services
International train driver teams for through international runsWith its strategic location, new products and growing international capabilities, DB Cargo Czechia impressively demonstrates how national companies are actively contributing to DB Cargo's European transformation.
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