DB Schenker Rail and SNCB join forces and launch new production company
Brussels/Berlin, December 10th 2009 - DB Schenker Rail, the freight railway company of Deutsche Bahn and SNCB Logistics today signed an agreement to establish a joint production company, named COBRA. The two railway operators join forces in order to be able to offer better quality and efficiency on the Belgian, German and Dutch routes. Moreover, COBRA permits to have a more competitive offer and strengthen the international position of both companies. COBRA will serve as a production company, so all commercial activities remain in hands of the two main operators.
COBRA stands for Corridor Operations Belgium Rail, it is subject of approval by the anti-trust authority. The main office of the joint production company shall be located in Brussels; the company shall be managed by a well balanced team of SNCB and DB Schenker Rail managers.
All COBRA trains will operate across borders, thereby saving transport time and costs. Marc Descheemaecker, CEO of SNCB, said: "The conclusion of the electrification work in this West-East corridor smoothed the way for SNCB to optimize transport flows. Our exceptional geographical position and our ambition to develop the freight activities in Belgium and in Europe, force us to look for reliable international partners. We are very happy that a reliable partner as DB Schenker Rail joins forces with us in order to be able to offer a qualitative transport on this very important corridor."