BLS Cargo. The Alpinists.
BLS Cargo was established in 2001 and is today the leading provider of private Alpine rail transport through Switzerland. The company benefits from a lean structure and focuses on block train business. The main emphasis is on international Alpine transit trains via the Lötschberg-Simplon and Gotthard routes.
BLS Cargo opened up its share capital in 2002 in order to build strong European partnerships. Since then, not only BLS AG (with a 52% shareholding) but also DB Schenker Rail Deutschland AG with 45% and IMT AG (Italian Ambrogio Group) with 3% have had a holding in BLS Cargo AG.
BLS Cargo’s market share in Swiss transit rail traffic is currently about 40%. This means that BLS Cargo is a key player on the Swiss rail transport scene, making a major contribution to meeting national targets for shifting freight traffic from road to rail.
Milestones in the history of BLS Cargo |
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|---|---|
| 2009 | The new Re 486 multi-system locomotives operate over the border into Italy for the first time |
2008 |
Delivery of multi-system locomotives for use in Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland |
2007 |
Opening of the Lötschberg base tunnel |
2006 |
Founding of BLS Cargo Italia S.r.l. Receipt of network access in Germany |
2005 |
Hupac public tender launches competition on the railways Start of Railport models with Railion |
2004 |
Setting up of the Chiasso service centre ISO certification 9001:2000 |
2003 |
BLS Cargo enters the Gotthard market for the first time First cross-border operating models with Railion |
2002 |
Opening up of shares to foreign partners First multi-system locomotive (Re 485) comes into service |
2001 |
Founding of BLS Cargo AG |