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 | The Swiss intermodal operator and UIRR-member Hupac Intermodal SA can show positive results in the transport volume for 2001, despite the worldwide economical slowdown. In the unaccompanied combined transport sector an increase of 0,6% to a total volume of 322.307 consignments (320.168 consignments in 2000). Of these 282.094 consignments were in transalpine traffic +1,6% compared with 2000. The positive result was achieved from 2-figure growth rates in the first half-year of 2001, which compensated for the negative trend that started in the autumn.
In 2001 the Rolling Highway sector was fundamentally restructured. Following introduction of the Lötschberg-Simplon route in June 2001, a large part of the existing traffic was transferred to the Freiburg im Breisgau–Novara service through the Lötschberg. This service is being operated by the newly formed RAlpin AG, in which Hupac, BLS, SBB and Trenitalia are shareholders. On the Gotthard route, which continues to be operated by Hupac Intermodal, this resulted in a volume reduction of 29,5%. The traffic generated by the short-distance service between Brunnen and Lugano, which was introduced in November 2001 as an ad hoc measure in response to the closure of the Gotthard road tunnel, did not compensate for the shift to the Lötschberg route.
The total Rolling Highway transport volume through Switzerland in 2001 (i.e. Hupac Intermodal and RAlpin combined) amounted to just over 56.500 road consignments. In the first six months of the year, demand on the Gotthard route fell by approximately 10% as a result of the increase in the weight limit for road transit traffic. In the second six months the 4-metre corner height offered by RAlpin on the Lötschberg route meant that numerous new bookings were acquired. Consequently the total transport volume of Hupac Intermodal and RAlpin combined rose by about 5% in comparison with the previous year.
Overall, Hupac Intermodal carried some 360.000 road consignments in 2001 (comparable with 828.000 twenty-foot equivalent units - TEU). For the first six months of 2002 the Company is reckoning with a further slight fall-off in volume. A reversal of this trend is not expected before the second half of the year. In the next few months Hupac will invest increasingly in the development of new products, such as Scandinavia–Italy and Belgium–Italy Unaccompanied combined transport connections, as well as in additional rolling stock. |  |
| Britain's trading crisis with Europe through the Channel Tunnel has deepened further with 1,200 rail freight services heading for Britain cancelled due to issues relating to asylum seekers. On 1 February EWS, urged the Government to show its commitment to international rail freight by calling for the French Government to immediately restore full services.
Since SNCF, the French rail operator, restricted services heading to Britain due to problems with asylum seekers, 1.200 train services have now been cancelled resulting in GBP 4 million losses for EWS and an extra 16 lorries an hour on Britain's road network - nearly 40.000 lorries since the restrictions began.
EWS used to move 3 million tonnes of freight through the Channel Tunnel each year, replacing over 500.000 lorry movements across Britain. Since the unilateral action by SNCF on 7 November to suspend freight trains bound for Britain, rail freight movements through the Channel Tunnel have been reduced by 75% and EWS has lost GBP 4 million so far. The entire operation is now on the verge of permanent collapse as users of the service switch from rail to road and losses become unsustainable. 8.000 jobs across Britain are at risk if operations close, and Britain's economy will be dealt a devastating long-term blow. | |
| The Railog GmbH, a mutually owned subsidiary of the state-owned German rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) and the logistic group Stinnes AG, shows a positive first half year. The joint venture Railog started the operations on the 1st of July 2001 with offers for rail integrated logistic services on the European transport market. Railog develops competitive concepts for rail transports for large customers, and hereby taking over the total management of rail services. For the first business year Railog is calculating with a turnover of some EUR 150 million. | |
| The Swedish and Danish state-owned passenger operators DSB and SJ AB announced on 30 January that they will receive SEK 30 million all in all as compensation from the train manufacturer Bombardier Transportation, which delivers the Öresunds-trains.
The compensation is paid for the lacks in the trains as well as for the delay in delivery. The rail operators and Bombardier have put all possible resources on getting the trains to work satisfactory on the Danish Coast Line, where the operation started in the summer of 2001. But there have been immense problems anyway and a large nuisance to the customers.
The compensation should cover a part of the loss of income for DSB as well as the increased operational costs for limiting the nuisance for the customers. Furthermore, the rail operators are still negotiating with Bombardier on a range of the problems, which have been put upon the operators by the manufacturer. Now finally the large and extraordinary work with finding the causes to all the problems on the Øresund line is bearing fruit and the last few months show less cancellations and delays. | |
| Steps to establish a new Wales & Borders rail franchise were resumed on 30 January with the announcement by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) of eight pre-qualified parties:
The franchise comprises local and regional passenger rail services in Wales and in the border counties. Pre-qualified companies will have 60 days from mid-February to prepare detailed proposals, from which a shortlist will be chosen. These short listed counter parties will then be invited to submit their best and final offers, from which a preferred counter party will be selected.
The SRA expects to announce its preferred counter party in Autumn 2002 and to have a new franchise in place by early 2003. Long-distance high-speed services to and from Wales will continue to be operated by First Great Western, Virgin CrossCountry and Virgin West Coast. | |
| On 30 January Bombardier delivered further 4 freight locomotives from the Kassel plant to the leasing company Locomotion Capital. Two BR 185 locomotives went directly to the railway operator rail4chem and two BR 145 locomotives went to the rail operator RAG Bahnen und Häfen. In the end of December 2001 Locomotion Capital leased 2 BR 185 locomotives to Hoyer Railserv and in 2002 RAG will lease further 2 BR 145-locomotives.
The English rail operator Angel train to 90% and the German rail industrial company Vossloh to 10% owns locomotion Capital. Locomotion Capital, together with the English Porterbrook that is also very active on the German Market, are offering new rolling stock to smaller railway operators at attractive conditions, and hereby also promoting the competition on the railway market. | |
| Human resource and training managers from 40 railway companies in Europe, Middle East and Asia attended the seminar on the Training of Railway Driving Instructors which was held from 22 to 24 January in Paris. The aim of the seminar was to reflect on the implications of the advent of conventional interoperability for the driving profession and the changes that will have to come about in training design to guarantee comparable standards from one railway operator to another.
The need to focus on training outcomes in terms of a common core competency profile was recognised. Railways companies would then design appropriate training to achieve the required standard, taking into account the level of recruits, and the cultural, regulatory and technical specificities of their organisations, whilst seeking to share experience in order to develop best practice.
Many railways have begun to do this and in the process are redesigning training so that the focus is on the learner who becomes a partner in his own development. Technical aids to learning such as computer based training (CBT) and simulators have also changed the role of the instructor, making him much more of a tutor to the trainee drivers in his charge.
The seminar was organised jointly by UIC and the Social Policy Adviser of the CER, who took an active part in the seminar together with representatives of the Trades Union Federations involved in social dialogue at European level. To stimulate the debate UIC had also invited a specialist in adult learning and training specialists from Rail Training International in London and the European Union Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. The Department of Cognitive Ergonomics of Paris 8 University, which has been involved in research on Eurostar Drivers, also took part to present some of its findings.
The importance of incorporating training from the outset with the rolling stock design and procedures drafting stage was underlined. It was considered vital to arrive at a better definition of core competencies and it was decided that the UIC should work on defining these and include them in a common data bank. It was agreed to pursue benchmarking of recruitment, competency management, training methodology in order to develop good practice. It was underlined that the ethos of organisations must develop so that the focus is on the people in the organisation. Participants agreed to find an efficient way of working together as companies and with the social partners to accompany the important transition required by interoperability and to promote the changes within their organisations that this would require. | |
| The Swedish Ministry for Economy, Transport and Communication on the 29 January announced the proposal of Ulf Adelsohn, former county governor of Stockholm and former Minister of Communications, as new chairman of the board of the Swedish state-owned rail passenger operation SJ AB. Björn Rosengren, Minister of Transport, will propose Ulf Adelsohn as successor of Daniel Johannesson at an extraordinary board meeting. Björn Rosengren said “SJ is important to Sweden. The company today stands before important challenges. Ulf Adelsohn has the experience and competence and the necessary engagement that I assess is necessary to lead the future development of the company”. | |
| The German state-owned railway operator DB AG has from 1 February a Competition Agent, Dr. Alexander Hedderich. The task is a part of the results from the Task Force Future Railway, of the German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing Kurt Bodewig.
Alexander Hedderich will also function as the contact person towards the upcoming Route Agency. He will also be the contact person for rail companies, when they feel they are discriminated or treated in a non-competitive manner. Alexander Hedderich will present a first extensive report on the competition on the railway and on his work in June this year. | |
| The extension at the Rennes terminal in France was opened on January 25th by Jean-Michel Dancoisne (President of CNC's board of directors), Claude Gueant (Prefect of the region), Francis Rol-Tanguy (Director General Delegate of SNCF Freight), Claude Martinand (President of RFF, the French rail network operator) and Bernard Chion (of Novatrans). Among the 140 guests invited to attend the inauguration, there were about 40 CNC customers, who were there to discover the terminal's new potential.
The terminal now covers 12.800 square metres (previously 6.200 square metres) thus improving the movement of both trucks and trains. Stock capacity is now 480 containers. Both 300 metre tracks served by gantry cranes have been extended to 345 metres. In place of a single 250 metre track, there are now three 270 metre tracks. Here, CNC's most powerful crane ever, is able to handle loads of up to 32 tonnes, even across two tracks.
Totally secure, the 'new style' terminal is completely enclosed, and will shortly have a entry/exit system controlled by telephone and camera.
With these improvements Rennes has reached a new level of performance, following the renewal last spring of its Quality Assurance certificate (ISO 9001 version 2000), as it is now better prepared to listen to, and to satisfy its customers. | |
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On 8 February 2002 in Brussels – Belgium: Lunch meting with EU-Commissioner for Environment Margot Wallström organised by the European Rail Circle. For Further information please contact André Clodong on tel: +32-2-501 08 23, fax: +32-2-501 08 30 or e-mail: andreclodong@prismaconsulting.com
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