ÖBB Rail Cargo Group optimises its connections to Turkey 



(Vienna, 24 March 2025) – ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is setting new standards in international freight transport and improving its services for transports to and from Turkey. A key innovation: TransFER Sladkovicovo–Istanbul has been switched to Sopron–Istanbul and now runs to and from Hungary. The frequency of the connection will be doubled to two round trips per week. Customers will benefit from improved planning, optimised first and last mile organisation and extended storage and handling options throughout Eastern Europe. 

Turkey is a central logistics hub and forms the bridge between Europe and Asia, especially for intermodal trade. Istanbul plays a central role as a hub for transport to the STAN countries and onwards to China. That’s precisely where RCG comes in with its improved offering. 

Optimised connections to and from Turkey 

In addition to switching to TransFER Sopron–Istanbul, existing connections have also been optimised. As a result, RCG offers its customers even more capacity and faster transit times on these important trade routes.


TransFER Budapest–Istanbul: This TransFER will now run five times instead of just four times a week. Zeebrugge, Ludwigshafen, Duisburg, Wels, Vienna and Budapest are also connected via antenna links.
TransFER Curtici–Tekirdag: The timetable has been optimised, enabling customers to plan their schedules more easily and reliably. Thanks to its direct connection to the port of Tekirdag, this route remains a key hub for transit traffic between Europe and Asia.
TransFER Genk–Curtici: RCG also offers flexible transport options between Belgium and Romania with five round trips per week between Genk and Curtici and shorter transit times for transports to Turkey.

With these innovations, RCG is strengthening its position as a leading provider in intermodal trade between Europe and Asia and as the market leader in Turkey, offering its customers even greater efficiency and reliability.

TransFER – the connection
The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group transports goods across the whole Eurasian continent with around 70 TransFER connections, more than 1.500 TransFER combinations and many customisable routes. The transport units vary from entire wagonloads and intermodal transport through to complete customisable solutions. Additional freight services such as transshipment, warehouse logistics and customs services can be booked according to the place of departure and the destination. The RCG takes care of all the details – from the first to the last mile.

About ÖBB Rail Cargo Group: The Freight Transport Division of the ÖBB
As a leading rail logistics provider in Europe, we are shaping the industry. 365 days a year – 24 hours a day. Across Europe and beyond into Asia. With our presence in 18 countries, we connect people, businesses and markets – from the first to the last mile. It’s thanks to our 5,912 logistics professionals that 419,000 trains a year, respectively 1,150 a day, reach their destinations safe and sound. With our efficient end-to-end logistics services, we transport over 78 million net tonnes of freight each year.