RAlpin closes the RoLa connection Freiburg – Novara

RAlpin. Source: www.ralpin.com

Despite strong interest from transport companies, the Swiss operator RAlpin has announced that it will discontinue the service three years earlier than originally planned. The main reason for this decision is operational difficulties resulting from the instability of the European railway network.

RoLa, a form of combined transport, enabled trucks to be transported on specially adapted rail wagons, with drivers travelling in sleeper coaches. The service operated between Freiburg im Breisgau and Novara.

Mounting problems led to 10% of scheduled runs being cancelled in 2024 alone, and in the first months of 2025 the number of trains operated decreased by 20% compared with the same period of the previous year.

The biggest issue proved to be numerous repairs and infrastructure failures, especially in Germany. Industry stakeholders have been signalling for years that the rail infrastructure cannot keep up with the needs of the economic system. Despite support from the Swiss government, RAlpin ended 2024 with a loss of 2.2 million Swiss francs.

Although the RoLa service was originally intended to remain in operation until the end of 2028, changing market conditions and infrastructure challenges forced the operator to shut it down earlier — already in December 2025.

The situation with RAlpin illustrates broader problems affecting intermodal transport across the Alps, where technical conditions cannot keep pace with changing customer preferences.

Source:
[PROMY24.COM]