Operators launch European single-wagon alliance
United effort to make services more competitive with road
Seven of Europe’s largest rail freight operators have launched a new initiative they hope will make single-wagon traffic more efficient and customer friendly.
Xrail Alliance, which brings together seven operators: DB Schenker Rail, CD Cargo (Czech Republic), CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), Green Cargo (Sweden and Norway), Rail Cargo Austria, CFF Cargo (Switzerland) and SNCB Logistics (Belgium), was officially launched in Zurich on Thursday.
Its main objective is to win volumes from road operators by making cross-border single-wagon traffic in Europe more competitive by increasing reliability to at least 90%, bringing transparency by introducing international timetables from supplier siding to customer siding and offering a standard process for booking.
“Close co-operation on production and information processes can help us unlock significant potential in efficiency and quality,” Xrail project leader Günther Ferk explained.
The new alliance was welcomed by the European Shippers’ Council (ESC), which claimed that the threat to single-wagon load services was one of its members’ biggest concerns.
Secretary general Nicolette van der Jagt said: “Shippers continue to complain about unacceptable levels of service performance, lack of competition and capacity in the rail freight sector; and there is now considerable concern over the declining number of single-wagon services.
“Members of the ESC have been continuously frustrated by the inability, or unwillingness, of many rail freight service providers to improve efficiency and customer service.
“Now we see a group of rail freight operators seemingly prepared to tackle these fundamental issues, we are, of course, very interested.
“For too long European rail freight’s incumbent operators have believed that most of the problems in the sector can be resolved with new and enhanced rail infrastructure.”
Observers said one notable absentee from Xrail was Fret SNCF – one of Europe’s biggest single-wagon rail freight operators, which is planning a radical restructuring of its own offering in this market.
Van der Jagt added: “It is regrettable that SNCF Freight and TrenItalia Cargo, both of which have declared increasing disinterest in single-wagon business, are not involved in the alliance.”
Xrail Alliance, which brings together seven operators: DB Schenker Rail, CD Cargo (Czech Republic), CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), Green Cargo (Sweden and Norway), Rail Cargo Austria, CFF Cargo (Switzerland) and SNCB Logistics (Belgium), was officially launched in Zurich on Thursday.
Its main objective is to win volumes from road operators by making cross-border single-wagon traffic in Europe more competitive by increasing reliability to at least 90%, bringing transparency by introducing international timetables from supplier siding to customer siding and offering a standard process for booking.
“Close co-operation on production and information processes can help us unlock significant potential in efficiency and quality,” Xrail project leader Günther Ferk explained.
The new alliance was welcomed by the European Shippers’ Council (ESC), which claimed that the threat to single-wagon load services was one of its members’ biggest concerns.
Secretary general Nicolette van der Jagt said: “Shippers continue to complain about unacceptable levels of service performance, lack of competition and capacity in the rail freight sector; and there is now considerable concern over the declining number of single-wagon services.
“Members of the ESC have been continuously frustrated by the inability, or unwillingness, of many rail freight service providers to improve efficiency and customer service.
“Now we see a group of rail freight operators seemingly prepared to tackle these fundamental issues, we are, of course, very interested.
“For too long European rail freight’s incumbent operators have believed that most of the problems in the sector can be resolved with new and enhanced rail infrastructure.”
Observers said one notable absentee from Xrail was Fret SNCF – one of Europe’s biggest single-wagon rail freight operators, which is planning a radical restructuring of its own offering in this market.
Van der Jagt added: “It is regrettable that SNCF Freight and TrenItalia Cargo, both of which have declared increasing disinterest in single-wagon business, are not involved in the alliance.”
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