# More Freight Trains Between Cologne and Basel **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** [Partner] move logistics | **Published:** 2026-09-09 | **Updated:** 2026-09-12 **Tags:** kombiverkehr, schiene, köln-basel, güterzug, bahntransport, niedwigwasser, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Schienentransport, Digitalisierung > Between Cologne and Basel, there are now five instead of three round trips per week. This brings approximately 400 TEU of additional capacity to rail. --- Since September 7, 2026, there have been more departures on the rail route between Cologne and Basel. Kombiverkehr has increased its service from three to five round trips per week. A round trip means one journey there and back again. According to the company, this increases the possible transport volume by approximately two-thirds. Specifically, around 400 TEU will be additionally available. One TEU corresponds to approximately a standard 20-foot container. The journey between Cologne-Eifeltor and Basel typically takes eleven to thirteen hours. From Cologne, there are further connections to Germany and Northern Europe. This makes it easier for shipments from Switzerland to be transported further north. The background is also the low water levels on the Rhine. When inland vessels can carry less cargo, transportation costs per ton increase. In some cases, shipments remain unshipped or must be distributed across multiple vessels. Rail can take over part of these volumes. However, it will not be able to replace every lost barge slot. For freight forwarders, the denser timetable offers more choice in shipping days. Anyone who misses a train or fails to bring their goods to the terminal in time no longer has to wait as long for the next departure. In addition to Cologne–Basel, Kombiverkehr is expanding other routes. Between Duisburg and Malmö, two round trips per week have been running since September 2. From September 8, two round trips between Regensburg and Verona will be added. A new connection from Neuss to Barcelona is scheduled to start on October 5 with three round trips per week. This Spain connection is announced but not yet in operation at the date of this report. --- For us, that first of all means more choice. Nevertheless, you should book spaces early. If low water levels cause many containers to switch from ship to rail, an additional train can also fill up quickly. Shippers should verify the cutoff time, weight, and dimensions of their loading units. For shipments to Switzerland, customs clearance and possible waiting times at the terminal must also be taken into account. The pre-carriage by truck must also be coordinated with the train schedule. If the driver arrives too late, the booked space is gone. In short: Between Cologne and Basel there is significantly more rail capacity. This helps when problems arise on the Rhine, but still requires careful planning. --- The higher frequency has been in effect since September 7, 2026. The offering increases from three to five round trips per week. This represents a calculated increase of approximately 67 percent. According to Kombiverkehr, the additional volumes amount to approximately 400 TEU. The standard transit time is eleven to thirteen hours. Hazardous goods are permitted, with the exception of hazardous materials of Class 7. At Cologne-Eifeltor, connections are available to other parts of the Kombiverkehr network. The expansion is a response to low water levels on the Rhine. Duisburg–Malmö has been offered twice weekly since September 2, 2026. Neuss–Barcelona is scheduled to start on October 5, 2026. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Glossary - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Combined transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/combined-transport-2) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Low Water Surcharge (LWS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-water-surcharge-lws) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/mehr-gueterzuege-zwischen-koeln-und-basel-20260908123437](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/mehr-gueterzuege-zwischen-koeln-und-basel-20260908123437)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/mehr-gueterzuege-zwischen-koeln-und-basel-20260908123437](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/mehr-gueterzuege-zwischen-koeln-und-basel-20260908123437)*