For the fifth time, the so-called “Dialog.Schiene.Südwestfalen” took place. This was intended to give decision-makers in the exporting industry and port economy as well as logistics an insight into the possibilities of rail freight transport in Südwestfalen and Hamburg through keynote talks and moderated expert contributions.
At the fifth “Dialog.Schiene.Südwestfalen,” which took place on 11 September 2025 at the Krombacher Brewery in Kreuztal, around 150 representatives from business, politics and logistics discussed how the region can secure and expand its role as an industrial location in challenging times through efficient rail logistics.
For the joint event, KSW Kreisbahn Siegen-Wittgenstein GmbH, Hafen Hamburg Marketing e.V., DB Cargo AG, Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. Regionalgruppe Südwestfalen, and IHK Siegen invited attendees to the premises of the Krombacher Brewery.
Strengthening rail freight transport
Rail is indispensable for Südwestfalen to reliably, competitively and environmentally friendly supply the region’s export-oriented industry, according to the event’s conclusion.
“Südwestfalen needs a strong rail freight transport.
It depends on the close and good cooperation of the participants if we want to shift traffic from the road to the rail. Moreover, we need a reform of the track pricing system, so that rail freight transport as a growing market can unleash its full strength,” said Oliver Krischer, Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, in his greeting.
Global connectivity
According to Katja Sander, Head of Business Unit Steel at DB Cargo AG, Südwestfalen, with its strong steel and metal processing industry, is one of the most important industrial regions in Germany. In order for companies to export their products worldwide, a reliable connection to the seaports is needed.
Here the close partnership between Kreisbahn Siegen-Wittgenstein and DB-Cargo becomes evident: Together they ensure that goods are transported reliably and environmentally friendly by rail, and that the region is directly connected to global markets, according to Sander.
Port of
Hamburg
Harald Kreft, Head of Railway Infrastructure and Railcar Services at Hamburger Hafenbahn, discussed the role of the Port of Hamburg for intermodal logistics solutions. The Universal Port Hamburg has now become the largest railway port in Europe.
“Through investments in the infrastructure and joint optimization of rail-specific processes, we want to increase the modal split from the currently over 50 percent in the coming years for our customers in the region, in Germany and Europe,” emphasized Kreft.
According to him, twelve percent of Germany’s rail freight traffic has Hamburg as origin or destination, as well as 32 percent of all containers transported by rail in Germany. Between Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, around 425,000 TEU are transported annually — of which 90,000 on the rail.
The Port of Hamburg already achieves a rail share of more than 50 percent in the modal split overall. But the axis between North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg still offers potential. The
goal is to further improve the modal split in this important corridor in favor of rail.
Südwestfalen Container Terminal
For companies without their own rail connection, the Südwestfalen Container Terminal in Kreuztal provides access to rail freight transport in the South Westphalian hinterland — with a handling capacity of 45,000 loading units per year, according to the information.
The Knauf Interfer company had for a long time looked for ways to use the Kreuztal terminal. Now, together with partners, they have been able to establish a long-term, multimodal solution, explained Fabian Bittkow, Head of Logistics Knauf Interfer Stahl Service Center GmbH.
Decisive expansion of rail infrastructure
The conclusion of the event: South Westphalia’s industry is aligning itself for the future — with climate-friendly logistics solutions, collaborations and the decisive expansion of rail. In the region, almost every second person is employed in manufacturing. More than ever, it is essential to set the course for the future
