Logistics hub | Container depot at Ostbahnhof: DB Cargo and Regensburg create future-oriented logistics solution

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Published on: September 15, 2025 / Updated on: September 15, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Logistics hub | Container depot at Ostbahnhof: DB Cargo and Regensburg create future-oriented logistics solution – Creative image: Xpert.Digital

Regensburg is gearing up: Why this logistics hub will be important for all of Germany

Rail as an economic engine: How this new container depot strengthens hundreds of companies in the region

Regensburg and DB Cargo AG are sending a strong signal for the future of freight transport: A groundbreaking agreement will see the construction of a state-of-the-art container depot at Regensburg's Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station), sustainably strengthening the city's position as a central logistics hub in southern Germany. This strategic decision marks a significant reorientation, as the depot will now be built on the existing Transa Spedition site – a more efficient, cost-effective, and faster-implemented solution than the originally planned variant in the eastern industrial area.

The new depot will serve as a central service hub for container storage, maintenance, and repair and is directly connected to the transshipment terminal of the DB subsidiary DUSS. This bundling of expertise in one location not only optimizes logistics processes but also makes an important contribution to climate protection. By strengthening rail freight transport, thousands of truck journeys will be shifted from road to more environmentally friendly rail, relieving congestion on the roads and reducing CO2 emissions. For the booming regional economy, particularly the automotive and mechanical engineering industries, the new depot represents a massive strengthening of supply chains and competitiveness.

Location decision and strategic reorientation

DB Cargo AG and the City of Regensburg have reached a groundbreaking agreement to build a modern container depot that will sustainably strengthen Regensburg as a freight transport hub. The new depot will be built on the premises of Transa Spedition GmbH at Regensburg Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station), ensuring a direct connection to the transshipment terminal operated by the DB subsidiary DUSS.

This location decision represents a significant change from the original plans. Instead of building the container depot in the Eastern Industrial Park, DB Cargo has opted for the existing infrastructure at the Ostbahnhof (Eastern Railway Station). This relocation offers both economic and logistical advantages and meets the current demands of the region's growing rail freight traffic.

Functions and operating concept of the container depot

The new container depot will serve as a central hub for various logistics services. Its main functions include the storage, maintenance, repair, and management of all types of containers. This comprehensive range of services meets the modern requirements of international container logistics and ensures that all components of the supply chain are optimally coordinated.

Container depots have established themselves as essential infrastructure in global trade. They not only serve as storage facilities for empty and full containers, but also perform important maintenance and repair functions. Container inspection according to international standards, such as the CSC regulations, ensures the safety and functionality of transport containers in global traffic.

Maintenance and repair work encompasses a wide range of services. These include structural repairs to container walls and floors, the repair of locking mechanisms, and the maintenance of specialized equipment such as refrigeration units in reefer containers. Modern container depots have specialized workshops and qualified personnel to carry out these tasks efficiently.

Transa Spedition: Change and repositioning

Transa Spedition GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DB Cargo, will cease operations at Regensburg Ostbahnhof on September 30, 2025. This strategic decision is part of a broader realignment of DB Cargo's activities in the region. Despite the cessation of operations, Transa will maintain a local sales representative to ensure continuity of customer relationships.

Multimodal transport and warehousing operations for the region will be handled via the modern Nuremberg Railport. Railports are specialized DB Cargo logistics centers that enable cross-modal logistics and are regularly served by shuttle services. This infrastructure guarantees rapid wagon turnarounds and systematic reloading options, which contribute significantly to the cost-effectiveness and reliability of transport logistics.

Strategic importance for rail freight transport

Container depots play a crucial role in international rail freight transport, as emphasized by Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, Member of the Board of Management for Freight Transport at Deutsche Bahn AG and CEO of DB Cargo AG. The strategic location of the new depot at the Ostbahnhof transport hub offers ideal conditions for the rapid and cost-effective implementation of the project.

Rail freight transport in Germany is experiencing continuous growth rates, with combined rail-road transport experiencing particularly strong growth. According to forecasts by the Federal Ministry of Transport, rail transport capacity will grow disproportionately by almost 43 percent by 2030. This development requires additional handling capacity and modern infrastructure, such as the new container depot in Regensburg.

The container depot fits seamlessly into DB Cargo's existing network, which already operates 24 terminals in Germany. These are operated by Deutsche Umschlaggesellschaft Schiene-Straße (DUSS), which handles over two million containers, swap bodies, and semi-trailers annually. The new depot in Regensburg will expand these capacities and further improve the region's connection to the European rail network.

Advantages of the new location solution

The decision to locate the Transa site brings several operational and strategic advantages. The immediate proximity to the existing terminal and public railway infrastructure will enable rapid commissioning once the necessary permitting procedures are completed. Parts of the site are already being used for empty container storage, facilitating the transition.

A key advantage of the new solution is the consolidation of several previously scattered outdoor areas into a central depot. This consolidation leads to operational efficiency gains while simultaneously reducing traffic congestion in the surrounding urban districts. Centralization also enables better resource utilization and optimized workflows in depot operations.

The new location solution is also more cost-effective and can be implemented more quickly than the originally planned variant in the eastern industrial area. These economic advantages benefit both DB Cargo and the city of Regensburg and allow available resources to be used more efficiently for infrastructure improvements.

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This innovative technology promises to fundamentally change container logistics. Instead of stacking containers horizontally as before, they are stored vertically in multi-tiered steel rack structures. This not only enables a drastic increase in storage capacity within the same space but also revolutionizes the entire processes in the container terminal.

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Regensburg freight transport center as a logistics hub

The new container depot will be integrated into the existing trimodal freight transport center (GVZ) in Regensburg, one of the most modern and advanced freight transport centers in Germany. The GVZ encompasses municipal and private land near the marshalling yard, as well as the areas of the Regensburg Bayernhafen port, and, with a total area of 360 hectares, forms one of the largest decentralized freight transport centers in southern Germany.

The GVZ's trimodal facilities enable transshipment between road, rail, and waterway transport modes. This versatility makes Regensburg an important logistics hub for trade between Germany and Eastern Europe. Over 100 transport companies are located in the GVZ, ensuring scalable capacity as needed and a comprehensive service portfolio.

The freight village's transport connections are optimally designed. Excellent road connections are provided via the A3 and A93 federal highways, as well as the B15 and B8 federal roads. Rail connections are provided via the combined transport terminal, operated by DUSS, which offers direct connections to German and European economic centers.

Technical infrastructure and operational processes

Modern container depots are equipped with advanced technology to ensure efficient operations. The new depot in Regensburg is expected to feature various handling systems, from gantry cranes to mobile handling equipment such as reach stackers. This flexibility will enable efficient handling of different container types and sizes.

Modern container depots are managed by integrated IT systems that monitor the location, condition, and movement of containers in real time. These systems enable precise inventory management and optimized logistics planning. Customers can use these systems to query the status of their containers and track transport orders at any time.

An important aspect of the depot infrastructure is the equipment for various container types. In addition to standard dry containers, refrigerated containers, tank containers, and specialty containers must also be able to be handled. Refrigerated containers, for example, require power connections for the maintenance of the refrigeration units and specialized repair facilities.

Environmental and climate protection aspects

Promoting rail freight transport through the new container depot contributes significantly to climate protection. Rail transport is significantly more environmentally friendly than road transport and can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. For example, transporting a container by rail over 400 kilometers can reduce CO2 emissions by 1.5 tons compared to truck transport.

Shifting freight from road to rail significantly reduces the strain on the road network. Modern transshipment stations can save millions of truck kilometers annually, thus protecting the environment and reducing traffic congestion in cities. The new container depot in Regensburg will contribute to this positive development.

The German government supports the expansion of rail freight transport infrastructure as part of the transport transition. The aim is to significantly increase the share of rail freight transport in the modal split by 2030. Container depots like the one planned in Regensburg are important building blocks for achieving these goals.

Urban planning and legal aspects

The planning law for the container depot was already established in the past. Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer emphasized that the city has developed the planning independently of the project and, through development plan no. 215-I, has designated a high-quality industrial area with excellent infrastructure on an area of approximately 120,000 square meters at the Ostbahnhof station.

The development plan and the associated building regulations remain in place, a decision recently confirmed by the Administrative Court in Munich in a dismissed legal challenge. This legal clarification provides planning certainty for DB Cargo and enables the rapid implementation of the project without further legal obstacles.

The industrial zone was already designated in the city of Regensburg's land-use plan. The development plan thus evolves from the overarching planning and corresponds to the city's long-term urban development goals. Its location between the Regensburg-Munich railway line and Max-Planck-Straße offers ideal conditions for industrial and logistics use.

Economic importance for the region

The new container depot strengthens Regensburg as an important business location in Bavaria. The region boasts a strong and internationally connected economic structure that relies on reliable and efficient transport routes. Important employers in the region are the automotive and mechanical engineering industries, with a catchment area stretching from Ingolstadt via Nuremberg and Landshut to the German-Czech border.

The container depot will expand the region's logistics capacity and create new opportunities for companies to locate there. The direct connection to the European rail network will enable regional companies to transport their goods cost-effectively and in an environmentally friendly manner. This strengthens the competitiveness of the local industry and makes the region more attractive to new investors.

The automotive industry, which has a strong presence in the Regensburg region, particularly benefits from the improved logistics infrastructure. With annual growth of around 10 percent in handling capacity, the need for efficient transport solutions is continuously increasing. The new container depot can help meet this growing demand.

Technological innovations in container handling

Modern container handling benefits from innovative technologies that make operations more efficient and safer. Automated warehouse cranes can precisely position containers and enable parallel workflows. These technologies reduce handling times and increase terminal capacity.

An interesting example of innovative container technology is the Container Transfer System (CTS) introduced in Denmark, which enables seamless and rapid transfer of ISO containers between rail and truck directly from the driver's cab. Such systems make rail access possible even in atypical locations and promote the use of environmentally friendly transport solutions.

Digitalization is playing an increasingly important role in container depots. Artificial intelligence can be used to optimize storage space, predict maintenance needs, and plan transport routes. These technologies improve process efficiency and reduce operating costs.

Solutions

The construction and operation of a container depot presents various challenges. One important task is ensuring sufficient container repair capacity. Containers are subject to continuous wear and tear due to intensive use and transport, necessitating regular maintenance and repair.

Quality assurance during repair work is crucial. Containers must be repaired according to international standards such as the CSC Convention to maintain their approval for international transport. This requires specialized equipment and qualified personnel.

Another important aspect is the efficient use of space in the depot. Containers must be stored in a way that ensures quick access while making optimal use of the available space. Modern stacking systems and intelligent warehouse management can help maximize efficiency.

Development potential

The new container depot in Regensburg is expected to be only the first step in the further development of the logistics infrastructure at the location. The region has considerable growth potential, which can be further exploited through improved connections to the rail network.

The expansion of combined transport between different modes of transport offers further development opportunities. The connection to the Regensburg Danube port enables trimodal transport solutions that combine rail, road, and inland waterway transport. This versatility makes the location particularly attractive for international logistics service providers.

The planned expansion of the combined transport terminal in Regensburg-Burgweinting demonstrates the city's long-term commitment to expanding its rail freight infrastructure. The new container depot perfectly complements this strategy and creates additional capacity for the growing transport volume.

European transport policy promotes the shift of freight transport to environmentally friendly modes of transport. Container depots like the one planned in Regensburg are important building blocks for the European transport network of the future. They enable even smaller companies without their own rail connections to benefit from the advantages of rail freight transport.

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