Profile
Sebastian Schilling bridges rail and logistics real estate.
After 28 years in rail freight transport, most recently as Senior Vice President Corporate Development and Marketing at DB Cargo AG, reporting directly to the CEO, he now advises developers, investors, agents and economic development organisations on rail logistics projects and projects with a rail connection.
As a graduate engineer of RWTH Aachen University and one of the leading figures in rail logistics, he knows the railway from every perspective: operations, planning, product management, sales, marketing and strategy, both nationally and across Europe. A bridge-builder by nature, he has an extensive network among logistics companies, freight operators, rail equipment suppliers and across the DB Group.
His approach: rail logistics is about more than a rail siding. A location’s appeal depends on its intermodal connections, its position within the rail network and the rail services available. A dedicated rail siding further increases its potential.
The focus is on a property’s appeal to logistics operators that want to use rail. Strong rail usability makes a location attractive and creates price readiness among tenants and buyers. He identifies and articulates this added value for developers, investors, agents and economic development organisations.
His ambition: rail projects that deliver the benefits you expect from them. Rail – for real.
Professional background
Sebastian Schilling began his career in 1998 as an operations trainee at DB Cargo AG and over 28 years worked across almost every core area of rail freight transport, from production control and traffic planning to product management, sales and corporate development.
As Head of Traction/Operations in the Intermodal business unit of DB Schenker Rail, he was responsible for a fleet of 220 electric locomotives for combined transport and increased their efficiency by 30%. As Vice President Product Management, he managed the traffic portfolio for construction materials, industrial and consumer goods, including pricing and operational responsibility for 20,000 freight wagons.
From 2017, as Senior Vice President European Sales and Corridor Development, he led European sales for SME and new customers with around 150 employees in 16 countries and a sales volume of €160 million, which grew by 40% by 2022. In parallel, he led the “Corridor Excellence” and “European Corridors” programmes for expanding cross-border corridor structures.
As Senior Vice President Service Design, he was responsible for all traffic planning at DB Cargo AG, leading 135 employees and a €400 million budget. His remit included system dimensioning, single-wagon, block-train and international services, as well as collaboration with DB InfraGO. Most recently, he led corporate development, marketing and the sustainability strategy of the DB Cargo Group with 47 employees, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
After leaving DB Cargo in July 2026, he founded Mainz-based Rail4Real to apply his knowledge where the success of rail logistics is often decided: in the selection, development and marketing of logistics real estate. As a committed European and bridge-builder, he brings an extensive network among logistics companies, freight operators, rail equipment suppliers and across the DB Group.
For developers, investors, agents and economic development organisations, this career provides a clear advantage: he assesses locations and properties from the perspective of logistics operators that want to use rail and understands which factors truly matter to them. Strong rail usability makes a location attractive and creates price readiness among tenants and buyers.
Qualifications
The professional foundation for assessing the appeal of locations and logistics properties to logistics operators that want to use rail – for developers, investors, agents and economic development organisations.
Education
- Dipl.-Ing. in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace), RWTH Aachen University, including a study stay in the USA
- Intermediate diploma in Business Administration, RWTH Aachen University
Professional qualifications
- Certified as Leitender and Aufsichtführender im Bahnbetrieb (rail operations manager and supervisor) under § 47 EBO
- Long-standing commercial power of attorney (Prokura) at DB Cargo AG (since 2017)
Areas of expertise
- Assessment of logistics locations and properties based on intermodal connections, position within the rail network, available rail services and rail siding situation
- Understanding of the requirements that shippers, logistics operators and freight railways place on rail-connected properties – the perspective of future occupiers
- Rail logistics in combined transport, single-wagon and block-train traffic, from bulk cargo to fast-moving consumer goods
- Traffic planning, service design and network dimensioning, national and international
- Product management, pricing and sales
- Strategy, corporate development and sustainability
- Cross-border rail logistics and the development of European corridors
- Leading complex, cross-functional projects and transformations
Network and boards
- Extensive network among logistics companies, freight operators, rail equipment suppliers and across the DB Group
- Long-standing member of the Presidium and Administrative Board of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), as well as its Rail Freight Committee
- Long-standing member of the Freight Transport and Logistics Committee of the Federation of German Industries (BDI)
Languages
- German (native), English (business fluent)
“Sebastian Schilling uniquely combines the requirements of shippers, industry and commerce, the full spectrum of rail logistics and railway operations to create successfully functioning rail logistics solutions.”