Cologne Ports and Freight (HGK) and Neuss-Düsseldorf Port plan to merge their separate port and rail transport activities in a new joint venture company, RheinCargo. The existing port companies and the planned combined operator are owned by local governments in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Neuss.

hgk.jpgHGK is the larger rail operator of the two with a fleet of 648 wagons and 63 locomotives, most of which are mainline approved and used on freight services across Germany. HGK is infrastructure manager for a network of 98km plus a further 150km of industrial and harbour lines.

Neuss Railway (NE) is smaller with its 100km of tracks exclusively serving the harbour area or adjacent industrial premises. NE has a fleet of 15 diesel locomotives which are only used in the Neuss/Düsseldorf area.