DB Cargo UK has confirmed to RailAdvent its current position in the charter train operation market after various rumours started circulating.

When it comes to charter train operation, DB Cargo says that they are not withdrawing themselves from the charter train market, despite recent rumours.

However, the operator has said that they are going to focus in on contractual operations, with the likes of Belmond for their British Pullman trains, and less focus is going to be on the ‘ad hoc’ operations for other tour promoters.

DB has said that their charter business has moved from regular itineraries to other highly complex paths and trains. However, DB has said it will honour all ad hoc requests in 2024 that have already been agreed, which is about half a dozen.

A spokesperson for DB Cargo said “DB Cargo UK is not withdrawing from the charter train sector, at the present time we are simply concentrating on our contractual business with the likes of Belmond, rather than ad hoc requests to run services.”

“The nature of DB’s charter business has shifted from regular itineraries to highly complex operations which absorb an increasing amount of resource, which is becoming scarcer.

We will be honouring all ad-hoc trains in 2024 that have already been agreed and contracted to do – about half a dozen.”