RTSB Group R Logo black and blue

About Us

RTSB is a family owned business and one of the leading railway operators along the Eurasian logistics corridor, well known for quality service, flexibility and reliability.

RTSB Timeline

A chronological outline of our company history and milestones.

HISTORY

Our background and how it all started.

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1990

RTSB was founded in 1996. The founder’s fundamental knowledge of the railway market in the CIS, Russia and Europe paired with years of experience and valuable relationships in the railway sector laid the foundation for the future success of RTSB, building a bridge between the East and the West.

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2000

Around the turn of the century diversification took place. In 2007 the ContainerOnlineshop GmbH and the web-based  application myTransoffice were introduced. MyTransoffice received an innovation award in the category ‘logistics software’ at CEBIT in Hannover 2009, convincing the jury with an unmatched level of innovation and utility especially for medium-sized companies.

At the same time RTSB grew, making a name for itself as a progressive transportation company between Europe, the CIS and Central Asia.

The RTSB group was created.

Milestones

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

2009

Strategic Change

RTSB undergoes a change in strategy as Artur Ballardt becomes CEO of the company. The service portfolio is extended, RTSB prepares to evolve from a freight forwarder to a railway operator.

Picture of RTSB CEO Artur Ballardt sitting in his office

2011

RTSB goes Russia

An RTSB branch office in Moscow is established.
A forwarding contract with the Russian State Railway (RZD jsc) is signed, making RTSB official freight forwarder.

Freight forwarding contract with RZD

2012

RTSB becomes railway operator

RTSB introduces their first own block train service ‘Katarina’ from Hamburg (Germany) to Malaszewicze (Poland) and prepares to participate in the BRI initiative.
The subsidiary Intermodtrans GmbH with a branch in Riga (Latvia) and Belintertrans Germany GmbH, a daughter of the Belarusian state railway, are established in Friedrichsdorf.

Picture of RTSB container train Katarina from Hamburg to Brest

2013

First block train between China and Europe

RTSB operates their first block train from Duisburg (Germany) to Shanghai (China). Our first regular block train service from Zhengzhou (China) to Hamburg (Germany) is established.
A new branch office is established in Malaszewicze (Poland) right by the border crossing to Belarus to ease customs procedures.

2014

RTSB expands further

Regular block train services between Duisburg (Germany) and Malaszewicze (Poland), as well as Baku (Azerbaijan) and Poti (Georgia) on the New Silk Road are established.
RTSB initiates operations with locations in Izmir (Turkey) and Shanghai (China) are opened.

RTSB CEO giving speech at first train departure from Poti to Baku

2015

RTSB grows as an operator

A subsidiary in Astana (Kazakhstan) is established.
New regular block train services from Chengdu and Hefei to Europe are introduced.
In cooperation with DHL the first freight train from Chengdu to Poti along the New Silk Route is operated.
RTSB becomes a medium sized company.

Group picture of Kazakh and Chinese delegation with RTSB ceo

2016

New routes between Europe and China

The new route Chongqing – Duisburg (Germany) / Chengdu – Tilburg (Netherlands) / Nuremberg (Germany) is established.
The annual turnover reaches US$ 100Mio, RTSB now is a large business.

Inaugural train Rotterdam express Tilburg, Container train in duisburg terminal

2017

Contracts with LDz and CDIRS are signed

RTSB signs a forwarding contract with the Latvian state railway (LDz).
A contract with CDIRS is closed in Chengdu.
In cooperation with Belintertrans and DHL China a regular train link between Shenzhen and Minsk is established.
Business units in Gams (Switzerland), Lodz (Poland) and New York (United States) are established.

RTSB and  LDz management signing forwarding contract

2018

Introduction of new gateways

A block train service from Xi’an (China) to Hamburg/ Duisburg/ Neuss (Germany) and Budapest (Hungary) is established.
The Chongqing service to Duisburg now runs through Bruzgi (Belarus) / Kaliningrad (Russia) as an alternative to the main corridor Brest (Belarus) – Terespol (Poland).
RTSB established an office in Xi’an, as well as an RTSB branch office in Istanbul (Turkey).
A contract about a direct cooperation with UTLC ERA is signed.

RTSB and UTLC ERA managers shaking hands after signing contract

2019

RTSB goes carrier,
Coopertaion with CRCT is extended

The joint venture ERC – Eurasian Railway Carrier is founded in cooperation with Belintertrans Germany.
Our cooperation agreement with CRCT Europe is extended.
The annual turnover reaches US$ 300Mio.

Group shot of RTSB and CRCT delegation after closing cooperation agreement

2020

New routes and destinations

Our block train volume increases by approximately 32% in the first quarter and by 57% in the first half of 2020 (compared to 2019) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

New regular block train services are established:

  • between Ludwigshafen (Germany) and Xi’an (China)
  • Frenkendorf / Niederglatt (Switzerland) and Xi’an / Hefei (China)
  • Liège (Belgium) and Chengdu (China)
RTSB employees holding banner standing in front of freight train in Ludwigshafen

2021

RTSB  expands, further

Despite the ongoing disruptions due to the Corona pandemic, RTSB is able to extend their business and further increase block train volumes.  
RTSB RUS LLC is founded in Moscow.
A representative office is established in Budapest, Hungary.
Multimodal transports via the port of Kaliningrad to Hamburg and the UK are established . 

 

Group shot of RTSB and CRCT delegation after closing cooperation agreement

2022

Route development becomes crucial

The TMTM route via the Black Sea sees a revival as an alternative to the Northern routings as tensions between Russia and Ukraine increase.
We are able to attend expos in China, Kazakhstan and Europe, again after the Corona-induced break.

RTSB employees holding banner standing in front of freight train in Ludwigshafen

2023

RTSB embraces the dynamic Indian market

The company expands business operations along the Middle Corridor with the plan to establishment of a liaison office in Mumbai, India in 2024. This significant move is part of our commitment to tap into the vibrant and evolving Indian market, enriching our global portfolio.

To strengthen our network and enhance connectivity, we’ve also established an agency in Dubai, UAE. This strategic location serves as a pivotal hub, ensuring we have maximum control and flexibility over these new transport routes.

 

Group shot of RTSB and CRCT delegation after closing cooperation agreement
white light bulb icon

OUR MISSION

is to optimize current services in intermodal logistics and to develop new solutions to satisfy our customer’s transportation needs.

RTSB LOCATIONS

AT YOUR SERVICE ON THREE CONTINENTS

We operate in 20 locations in 15 countries.
Our headquarters is situated in Friedrichsdorf, Germany.

RTSB Locations worldwide
Pictures of RTSBs presence at exhibitions and congresses with employees speaking to customers and giving speeches

OUR BUSINESS SCOPE

CORE MARKETS & CUSTOMERS

Eurasia is the largest continent on our planet, containing Europe and Asia. With 55,000.000 km2 Eurasia covers about 36% of the Earth’s total landmass, hosting over 5 billion people in over 100 countries.

As a neutral forwarder and well established partner, we work with globally operating transportation companies as well as state-run railway companies all over the Eurasian continent and the United States. Our expertise is the operational management and coordination of our customer’s transportation requirements.

Our integrated door-to-door logistics solutions allow us to deliver container cargo to almost any destination in Europe, the CIS, Mongolia and China.

OUR SIX STRONG CORE BUSINESSES

BLOCK TRAIN
OPERATIONS

RAILWAY CARRIER
SERVICES

CONTAINER FREIGHT
FORWARDING

ROAD FREIGHT
TRANSPORTATION

PROJECT CARGO
SERVICES

IT
SERVICES

white globe icon with connecting routes

Benefit from our comprehensive experience in freight forwarding on more than 1.000,000 routes.

OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

AGREEMENTS WITH STATE RAILWAYS

The RTSB group holds direct forwarding contracts and agreements with major state railways. These contracts allow us to be listed as a carrier in all relevant shipping documents with our own freight payment codes. No intermediary needed.

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RTSB holds freight payer code agreements with the state railways of:

– Germany – Kazakhstan
– Poland – Uzbekistan
– Latvia – Mongolia
– Lithuania – China

For our customers these agreements mean shorter transit times, faster processing at the borders as well as higher cost efficiency resulting in attractive pricing.

OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Together with our strong partners we aim to tailor our services exactly to your specific needs, adding even more value to your customer experience with RTSB.

ERC Logo

ERC is a licensed railway carrier for joint intermodal and conventional freight transport on European tracks. 

Mytransoffice Logo

MyTransoffice is a streamlined platform for end to end communication, mapping all processes along multi-modal transport chains.

Belintertrans Germany logo

Belintertrans Germany is a subsidiary of the Belarusian State Railway, based out of Friedrichsdorf, Germany.

Intermodtrans GmbH Logo

Our Latvian branch organizes short-sea pre-carriage from the North and Baltic Sea ports as well as handling and forwarding of shipments to the CIS, Mongolia and China.

ERC Logo
transoffice Logo
Belintertrans Germany logo
Intermodtrans GmbH Logo

CONTACT OUR TEAM NOW!

SALES@RTSB.DE     +49 6172 5908 0