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Ambitious Targets
Xrail, the European rail freight operators alliance, starts its roll-out
gradually introducing the new quality standards for wagonload traffic
on more and more routes.
Photo: Corbis; Chart: Illuteam43
Wagonload traffic is enormously important in European
rail freight traffic. It accounts for around half of all
freight transports by rail and studies show that there
is considerable potential for further growth. In recent years, however,
this potential has by no means been fully utilised. It was for
this reason that seven rail freight operators joined forces to form
the Xrail alliance in 2007 on the initiative of the International
Union of Railways UIC. The aim: the founding members CD
Cargo (Czech Republic), CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), DB Schenker
Rail (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark), Green Cargo (Sweden,
Norway), Rail Cargo Austria (Austria, Hungary), SBB Cargo
(Switzerland) and SNCB Logistics (Belgium) wish to cooperate
more closely and avoid duplicating resources. This should have
a three-way benefit for customers. The aim is to improve the reliability
of transports, to make carriage more transparent and to
shorten the offering process.
The Xrail company was formally established in Brussels on 24
June after the alliance agreement had been signed earlier this year
in February. But collaboration between the partners was already
in full swing ahead of the company formation.
Sven Budde, Project Manager for Xrail at DB Schenker Rail,
says, “Reliability is the focus of Xrail’s work and this is where we
have set ourselves ambitious targets. We want at least 90 percent
of shipments in international wagonload traffic to reach the customer
on time.” Coordination between the partner railways regarding
wagon transfer will be improved in order to meet this
target. For the first time ever, Xrail is also introducing information
that covers international timetables from origin to destination;
this will improve the customer’s ability to schedule and track the
movement of transports.
Xrail can already guarantee the prescribed punctuality targets
on specific routes. The next step is to guarantee high standards
of quality uniformly. The partners are currently working all-out
on an international capacity management system with this very
aim in mind.
The booking of resources via a central platform should then
make it even easier to plan and schedule transports accurately.
International Transport Schedule
For the first time ever, there will also be an international transport
schedule that consolidates the transport schedules of all the
individual partners. Then by entering the time, point of dispatch
and destination, customers will be able to obtain information
about the transport including its estimated arrival time. This will
be based on an IT system which is currently in the test phase. In
addition to the features mentioned, it will also be possible to make
planned/actual comparisons during the transport and in the event
of delays it will send alerts to the customer with real-time information
and the new estimated time of arrival.
The partner railways will also be able to use the system to call
up key performance indicators that will serve as the basis for continual
improvement.
There are also moves afoot to speed up the offering process for
international transports. This means improving and simplifying
the coordination processes between the partner railways.
According to Budde, “There have been many cases previously
where it has taken far too long for the customer to obtain a quote.
In future we intend to respond to standard enquiries within no
more than three days.”
Xrail is currently in the pilot phase and the first customers are
already being handled in line with Xrail standards. The results
are very promising. Now it is time to begin the seamless transition
towards roll-out. There will be a gradual introduction of further
routes on which customers will be able to enjoy these high standards
of quality. So far the network is growing exclusively due to
the addition of existing freight traffic although the intention is
also to acquire new traffic for Xrail as soon as possible.
Budde sums up, “Xrail is an asset to our customers because
transport quality, transparency and offering processes are all improving.
The environment will also benefit because we intend to
use Xrail to boost wagonload traffic with the aim of switching
more transports from road to rail.”
Contact | Sven Budde
Phone: +49 (0)6131 15-62076 | Sven.Budde@dbschenker.eu
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