About Rail Freight sector in Germany
The Rail Freight sector in Germany comprises 39 companies, including 16 funded companies having collectively raised $6.21B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 11 are Series A+ funded.
Rail Freight sector in Germany has seen 5 acquisitions and 5 IPOs. This represents almost 25.6% of all such companies - which is higher than the 5.3% exit rate of tech companies in general.
Key Metrics
Total Companies
Top Companies
Total Funding
Funded Companies
Series A+ Companies
Series C+ Companies
IPOs
Acquisitions
Top Rail Freight Companies in Germany
There are 39 Rail Freight startups in Germany which include Deutsche Bahn, CargoBeamer, VTG, Duvenbeck, Hlb-Online. Out of these, 16 startups are funded, with 11 having secured Series A+ funding.
Here is the list of top Rail Freight startups in Germany
Provider of rail transportation services. It offers a range of rail travel services, High-speed trains with amenities like free WiFi, power outlets, first and second class, quiet zones, family areas, and onboard dining options. It also provides Intercity, Regional Trains, Night Trains, and operates extensive freight services and invests in digital innovations for transport efficiency.
Key facts about Deutsche Bahn
- Founded Year: 1994
- Location: Berlin (Germany)
- Stage: Funding Raised
- Investors: European Investment Bank, HypoVereinsbank and 1 Other
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, Aug 04, 2023, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 60/100 What is this?
2. CargoBeamer
Intermodal transport solutions for semi-trailers via the rail network. It facilitates the transfer of semi-trailers from road to rail, including automated loading and unloading processes at dedicated terminals. It provides logistics companies with an efficient option for long-haul transport. It enables sustainable freight transport by shifting cargo from road to rail. It operates a network of routes and terminals designed to enable the international transport of semi-trailers by rail.
Key facts about CargoBeamer
- Founded Year: 1998
- Location: Leipzig (Germany)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $258M
- Investors: OIC, Flexaminvest and 1 Other
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, Feb 07, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 54/100 What is this?
3. VTG
Provider of multimodal logistics and rail freight wagons services. It operates the largest privately-owned fleet of freight wagons, offering leasing, logistical, and digital solutions. It offers multimodal logistical and integrated digital solutions.
Key facts about VTG
- Founded Year: 1951
- Location: Hamburg (Germany)
- Stage: Acquired
- Investors: Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Jan 01, 2021, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 52/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 40 of 12,270 Competitors
4. Duvenbeck
Key facts about Duvenbeck
- Founded Year: 1932
- Location: Bocholt (Germany)
- Stage: Acquired
- Tracxn Score: 48/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 22 of 1,083 Competitors
5. Hlb-Online
Provider of regional passenger and freight rail services. This company operates a network of rail and bus lines, offering transportation throughout a wide area. It maintains its own fleet of vehicles and infrastructure, including workshops for maintenance and repair. The company also offers various career opportunities within its operations. Its services include scheduled passenger transport and freight hauling by rail.
Key facts about Hlb-Online
- Location: Germany
- Stage: Unfunded
- Tracxn Score: 38/100 What is this?
Companies founded year-on-year in the Rail Freight sector in Germany
This is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | - |
2022 | - |
2021 | - |
2020 | - |
2019 | - |
2018 | - |
2017 | - |
2016 | - |
Stage-wise distribution of Rail Freight sector companies in Germany
Out of the total 39 Rail Freight companies in Germany, 16 have secured funding. Among them, 11 have reached Series A or higher, and 11 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 39
Funded - 16
Series A+ - 11
Series B+ - 11
Series C+ - 11
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 39 |
Funded | 16 |
Series A+ | 11 |
Series B+ | 11 |
Series C+ | 11 |
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Funding Trends in the Rail Freight sector in Germany
Total funding year-on-year in the Rail Freight sector in Germany
The Rail Freight sector in Germany saw a total funding of more than $4.74B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2019 at more than $2.24B.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2025 | $67.5M |
2024 | $152M |
2023 | $2.23B |
2022 | $38.5M |
2021 | $2.66M |
2020 | $1.95M |
2019 | $2.24B |
2018 | $7.93M |
2017 | $11.1M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Rail Freight in Germany
In the year 2025, till February 2025, Rail Freight companies in Germany have raised $67.5M in equity funding across 1 round.
In the same period last year (i.e. till February 2024), Rail Freight companies in Germany had raised equity funding across 1 round.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Rail Freight companies in Germany:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series D | 7828 | Feb 07, 2025 | ||
Series D | 3970 | May 22, 2024 | - | |
Series C | 2193 | Feb 26, 2024 | ||
Series C | 5904 | Feb 08, 2022 | - |
Top Investors in Rail Freight in Germany
HypoVereinsbank is the top investor in Rail Freight companies in Germany based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Rail Freight companies in Germany:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Munich (Germany) | ||
Frankfurt Am Main (Germany) | - | |
Frankfurt Am Main (Germany) | ||
Siegen (Germany) | ||
Frankfurt (Germany) |
M&A activity in Rail Freight sector in Germany
In the year 2023, till July 2023, 1 acquisition happened in Rail Freight sector in Germany. Last year, in 2022, a total of 2 acquisitions happened in Rail Freight sector in Germany.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Rail Freight sector in Germany:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Jul 27, 2023 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jun 29, 2022 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jan 13, 2022 | ||
Business Acquisition | May 20, 2019 | ||
Business Acquisition | May 02, 2018 |
Acquisition trends in Rail Freight sector in Germany
Here are the acquisition trends in Rail Freight sector in Germany:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | 1 |
2022 | 2 |
2021 | - |
2020 | - |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | 1 |
2017 | - |
2016 | - |
IPOs in Rail Freight in Germany
In the year 2016, till November 2016, 1 IPO happened in Rail Freight sector in Germany.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Rail Freight sector in Germany:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Nov 28, 2016 | Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA) | |
Jun 28, 2007 | Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA) |
Top News in Rail Freight in Germany
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Financial investor CVC increases Schenker offermanager magazin•Sep 09, 2024•Deutsche Bahn, DB Schenker
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Duvenbeck electrifies the transfer services at the ZF factory in SaarbrückenTrafic Media•Dec 13, 2023•Duvenbeck, ZF
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GIP and ADIA to buy majority stake in VTGPE Hub•Jun 29, 2022•VTG, Global Infrastructure Partners, ADIA, VTG
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Volta Trucks announces partnership with DB SchenkerEvertiq•Dec 01, 2021•DB Schenker, Volta Trucks, Deutsche Bahn
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