On 22 September, SBB Cargo International officially inaugurated its new head office in Olten by naming a locomotive. The company, which has sites in Germany and Italy, operated more than 15,000 trains on the European north-south corridor in the first half of 2011.

The ceremony marked the completion of SBB Cargo International’s setup process, which has been progressing in stages since its formal foundation at the beginning of the year. “I am delighted that we have been able to establish our headquarters here in Olten, and that in so doing we are continuing a Swiss railway tradition that has existed for more than a century,” said Michail Stahlhut, CEO of SBB Cargo International, at the inauguration ceremony.

International freight trains have been travelling under the SBB Cargo International banner since January. “Operations have got off to a good start, but we are still overcoming the usual teething troubles,” stressed Michail Stahlhut to the media. In its first six months, SBB Cargo International operated over 15,000 trains. Motive power is provided by a locomotive fleet of around 100, half of which are multi-system vehicles designed for use on international routes.

(Source: SBB)