Editing DB Cargo (section)

=== Internationalisation ===
The successful creation and launch of Railion laid the foundation for the establishment of a leading European transport and logistics company.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Güterverkehr: Bahn legt Grundstein für europäische Transportfirma. Deutsche gehen mit Niederländern zusammen – Verbund offen für weitere Partner. |newspaper = Mitteldeutsche Zeitung |date = 23 June 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Deutsche und niederländische Bahn gehen zusammen. Europäisches Transport- und Logistikunternehmen wird gegründet. |newspaper = Der Tagesspiegel |date = 19 June 1999 |page = 18}}</ref> Specifically, from the onset, the organisation was open to the incorporation of further partners.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Deutsch-niederländische Güterverkehrs-Fusion: Rail Cargo Europe sucht noch Partner. |newspaper = Handelsblatt |date = 23 June 1999 |page = 14}}</ref> While the [[European Commission]] and [[European Parliament]] aimed to promote competition among providers, the providers themselves instead opted to foster cooperation.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Eberhard |last = Krummheuer |title = Bahnen wollen Kooperation statt Konkurrenz. |newspaper = Handelsblatt |date = 27 November 2000 |page = 15}}</ref> During 2001, the Danish state-owned rail company [[DSB (railway company)|Danske Statsbaner]] (DSB) opted to merge its rail freight transport activities into the joint venture, becoming its third partner and received shares totalling 2% in Railion in return, thus decreasing the stake of Deutsche Bahn in the venture to 92%.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = DB steigt bei dänischer Güterbahn ein. Sparte künftig unter Dach der Holding Railion – Dänen erhalten Anteile. |newspaper = Berliner Morgenpost |date = 15 December 2000 |page = 10}}</ref>

The [[cooperation]] between DB, NS and DSB has reportedly played an essential role in Deutsche Bahn's long-term strategy for expansion in other European countries.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Deutsche Bahn: Mehdorn auf Einkaufstour |newspaper = Wirtschaftswoche Telebörse |date = 14 December 2000 |page = 14}}</ref> This strategy covered not only state-owned rail companies but also the acquisition of private sector rivals, for example in [[Italy]] (2004),<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Christian |last = Gaertner |title = Deutsche Bahn baut Frachtgeschäft in Italien aus. Railion soll mehr Güter auf die Schiene holen. |newspaper = Die Welt |date = 3 May 2005 |page = 15}}</ref> [[Switzerland]] (2007)<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Stephanie |last = Lahrtz |title = Deutsche Güterbahn expandiert in Schweiz: Eigener Wagenladungsverkehr durch Erwerb einer Schweizer Firma. |newspaper = Neue Zürcher Zeitung |date = 14 June 2007 |page = 16}}</ref> and [[Poland]] (2009).<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Nikolaus |last = Doll |title = Expansion im Güterverkehr nach Polen |newspaper = Die Welt |date = 30 January 2009 |page = 13}}</ref> These were joined by a multitude of smaller acquisitions such as the transport and logistics divisions of [[RAG AG]].<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Annette |last = Becker |title = RAG verkauft Logistik an Stinnes-Tochter Railion. |newspaper = Börsen-Zeitung |date = 18 January 2005 |page = 10}}</ref> In Sweden, where Deutsche Bahn was unable to acquire its chosen target,<ref name="verkehrsrundschau.de">{{Cite web |language = de |url = https://www.verkehrsrundschau.de/nachrichten/railion-scheitert-bei-uebernahme-von-green-cargo-276515.html |title = Railion scheitert bei Übernahme von Green Cargo. |publisher = Verkehrsrundschau |date = 24 March 2005 |access-date = 8 January 2020 |archive-date = 24 July 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200724183348/https://www.verkehrsrundschau.de/nachrichten/railion-scheitert-bei-uebernahme-von-green-cargo-276515.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> the company instead focused on establishing collaborative ventures.<ref name="verkehrsrundschau.de"/> At the end of the 2000s, Railion was therefore able to not only offer connections across large stretches of Europe running from north to south,<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Werner |last = Balsen |title = Railion schafft sich Standbein in der Schweiz. Verbund der deutschen Güterbahn reicht jetzt nahtlos von Dänemark bis Norditalien. |newspaper = Frankfurter Rundschau |date = 14 May 2007 |page = 10}}</ref> but reliably serve rail route that run from west to east as well.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Ulf |last = Brychcy |title = Deutsche Bahn blickt nach Osteuropa. Logistikvorstand prüft Einstieg im Zuge der Privatisierung von Güterbahnen. Tochter Railion beschleunigt Expansion. |newspaper = Financial Times Deutschland |date = 15 May 2007 |page = 7}}</ref>

Despite this expansion into the rai freight sectors of several neighbouring nations, the presence of effective competition to provide freight services had reportedly made a negative impact on the company's economic development by May 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Gütersparte der Bahn in Bedrängnis. Railion-Sanierung stockt wegen harter Konkurrenz. |newspaper = Der Tagesspiegel |date = 6 May 2005 |page = 19}}</ref> Recognising the company's unfavourable financial position, Deutsche Bahn opted to respond by enacting numerous cost-saving measures;<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |first = Claudia |last = Wanner |title = Bahn verordnet Tochter Railion harten Sparkurs. Kosten der Güterverkehrssparte sollen bis zu 20 Prozent sinken. |newspaper = Financial Times Deutschland |date = 1 June 2005 |page = 6}}</ref> these were credited with a significant improvement in Railion's circumstances.<ref>{{Cite news |language = de |title = Güterbahn Railion rollt Richtung Profit. |newspaper = Handelsblatt |date = 28 April 2005 |page = 17}}</ref> During 2010, the rail freight transport crisis was initially deemed to have been largely resolved.<ref>{{Cite web |language = de |first = Birger |last = Nicolai |url = https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article10648099/Gueterverkehr-laesst-die-Krise-hinter-sich.html |title = Deutsche Bahn: Güterverkehr lässt die Krise hinter sich. |publisher = Die Welt |date = 31 October 2010 |access-date = 8 January 2020}}</ref>