Germany: The freight operator, which offers a unique service hauling lorry semi-trailers, filed a fresh application for preliminary insolvency proceedings with the court in Frankfurt am Main in late May. Helrom’s patents and wagon fleet will now pass to an insolvency administrator for realisation.
Helrom carries semi-trailers on its proprietary Trailer Rail piggyback wagons over five routes linking Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary. The wagons are developed using the company’s own technology and built by third-party manufacturers, among them Greenbrier Europe. The distinctive feature of the Trailer Rail design is a dedicated module for carrying semi-trailers that swings open sideways on a hydraulic system. This lets lorry tractors load the trailers straight onto the wagons, removing the need to invest in fixed loading terminals. There has been real demand for the service: Helrom’s revenue rose from €22 mln in 2024 to €47 mln in 2025.
Application of Trailer Rail technology. Source: Helrom/vimeo
Even so, as DVZ reports, management and the interim administrator concluded that carrying on no longer made economic sense. Staff are already being served with notice of termination. In parallel, prosecutors have opened an investigation. They will examine indications of possible misuse of funds and oversee the settlement of debts to suppliers and of staff wages.
Helrom’s previous insolvency was triggered last summer by a shortfall in shareholder equity. The problem was resolved for a time at the start of this year, when investment group HRG became the company’s new majority shareholder, bringing in fresh investors and providing additional capital. Wagon manufacturer Greenbrier, French bank Société Générale and Deutsche Leasing Finance also lent financial support.
But, as DVZ has learned, this proved insufficient. Cost control was also reportedly poorly organised, leaving no clear oversight of actual spending.
