At Forwardis, we often say that every client, every transport, is unique, and that each time, we have to start from scratch. Perhaps that’s why we’re sometimes called the “wedding planners” of rail logistics: we orchestrate each shipment from A to Z, and every operation requires reinventing the solution.

The special mission of transporting buses donated by Île-de-France Mobilités to Ukraine perfectly illustrates the need for agility and synergies between the different areas of expertise within the Rail Logistics Europe group, of which we are a part.

Let’s go back to the beginning. In November 2025, Forwardis was called upon for an operation that was not quite like the others: organizing the delivery of the first batch of buses donated by Île-de-France Mobilités to Ukraine, specifically to the regions of Kiev and Chernihiv. Behind this mission was a very concrete goal: to provide local authorities with the means to quickly evacuate vulnerable populations. But between intention and operational reality, there was a major challenge.

The situation quickly accelerated. Deadlines were tight, constraints numerous, and nothing was standard in this type of transport. Moving buses by rail across multiple countries, within very limited timeframes, and under specific technical and regulatory requirements… it’s not simple, also because it was the first transport of buses by rail in France since many years.A tailor-made solution had to be created, and fast.

This urgency required flawless responsiveness from the Forwardis team as well as the operational teams. Numerous discussions took place, and different scenarios were considered before finding the right one. Within very tight deadlines and while complying with all necessary authorizations, it was essential to identify the suitable wagons and organize loading points in France and Ukraine, while anticipating and securing the border crossing.

On December 17, the convoy left France, departing from Arras. On board were 30 buses, loaded onto low-bed wagons, heading east through Germany and Poland to Zamość, where a delicate operation had to take place: transshipment. The difference in track gauge between the European and Ukrainian rail networks required transferring each bus onto adapted wagons. A technical and meticulous operation, carried out precisely thanks to the mobilization of teams on the ground.

Unexpected issues arise during the transport, namely on technical and customs aspects. As a result, the train were forced to make an unscheduled stop during the Christmas period. Thanks to the mobilization of all involved partners and Forwardis teams, also on the ground, necessary operations have been organized in place and all issues were solved in a timely manner. The successful process of these unforeseen circumstances, despite the context of Christmas period, was a great success and is very enriching for involved players, showing the ability of Forwardis to find appropriate solutions on short notice and with many constraints.

A few days later, the train arrived in Kiev. The buses were quickly made available to local authorities.

And this was just the beginning. We are already preparing the next phase, aiming to make these operations even smoother and faster to deploy.

This first success also highlights the strength of a group. Forwardis did not achieve this challenge alone. Thanks to synergies with the other companies of the Rail Logistics Europe group, this operation was a success. With the RLE Solutions team at the holding level, we were able to quickly mobilize our “sisters”: Hexafret, Captrain Deutschland, Captrain Polska, as well as other Polish and Ukrainian rail operators. Beyond technical skills, it is our collective ability to organize, adapt, and move forward hand in hand that makes all the difference. In a project like this, constant collaboration made it possible to find concrete solutions in a context where approximation is not an option. This is what it means to act as a group.

Every transport we organize is above all a story of people and cooperation. With Forwardis and the Rail Logistics Europe network, our teams transform every challenge into concrete solutions, adapting, inventing, and moving forward together. This is how logistics becomes much more than transport: it becomes a true engine of action and solidarity.