13. May 2026, 00:00 o'Clock
Article: PIC network expanded: DHL and DB Cargo tailor routes to specific needs
Twelve additional train services per week strengthen north-south transport links between Hamburg, Nuremberg and Kornwestheim
From May 2026, DHL Freight and DB Cargo will expand their existing cooperation in rail freight transport. As part of this, the Parcel Intercity (PIC) will be further developed in a targeted manner. This is based on specific customer requirements, on the basis of which existing services have been reviewed and adapted. A total of twelve additional train services per week will be integrated into the existing offering, further strengthening north-south services.
At the heart of the adjustment is the reorganisation of the previous night service. The Hamburg–Kornwestheim connection will be replaced in its current role by the Hamburg–Nuremberg service. Nuremberg will thus once again be directly connected to Hamburg overnight. As an E+1 service (delivery on the next working day after dispatch) with a maximum speed of up to 140 km/h, consignments will be loaded on the day of dispatch and delivered on the following working day following the main rail route and sorting.
The Hamburg–Kornwestheim route will remain part of the network and will continue to run via a supplementary new service. From 4 May 2026, this will start with 5 trains per week in each direction (Tuesday to Saturday). From 6 June 2026, the service will be expanded to include weekend services, so that there will be a total of six trains per direction per week (Tuesday to Sunday). The transit time will in future be run as E+2 service (delivery on the second working day after dispatch) to ensure stable and predictable handling under the given infrastructural conditions. At the same time, this offers an advantage over road transport, particularly by circumventing the ban on lorry traffic at weekends.
The expansion of services specifically complements the existing rail network and creates additional capacity for the main flow of parcels and other freight. These adjustments demonstrate how existing structures can be further developed based on specific requirements.
Network structure comparison
Until 3 May 2026, focus on Hamburg–Kornwestheim via Würzburg; from 4 May 2026, new Hamburg–Nuremberg route and expanded Hamburg–Kornwestheim service that runs six times per direction per week.
Expanded network with new Hamburg–Nuremberg route and additional services to Kornwestheim.
Special thanks go to the colleagues involved and the terminal partners for their commitment to implementing the transport expansion.
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