Rail diversion in numbers

Rail diversion programme is improving, but still low

 

In week 39 we were able to carry 44% of the volume that normally runs via Rastatt over diversionary routes. Thanks to other measures such as barge service on the Rhine and additional departures from our terminals south of Rastatt, we could offer around 50% of our normal capacity.

 

Why is this proportion so low? Railway operations are extremely difficult because of technical and organisational obstacles:

  • Some diversionary lines require diesel locomotives
  • Loco drivers must be found and need to be trained for the new lines. For each delayed train on diversionary road, twice as many loco drivers are needed
  • Diversions via France require French speaking loco drivers
  • Overcrowded secondary diversion lines are prone to delays and dysfunctions
  • Terminals on the diversionary routes are overloaded and add dysfunction to an already suffering system
  • Shunting service and traffic management functions are understaffed
  • International cooperation between infrastructure managers is slow.

 

As a result, railway undertakings are not able to fully exploit the theoretically existing train path capacity, and some trains are running with extreme delays of several days.

 

Situation in week 39

  • Theoretically Hupac could count on a capacity of 120 trains
  • We were able to run 94% of this train capacity. The lack of loco drivers was the main problem
  • As a result, in week 39 we were able to carry 44% of our normal volume on the diversionary lines.

 

 

Target

Actual figures

Shipments today vs. normal week

Trains

Shipments

Trains

Shipments

 

 Normal week

310

9.300

280

8.400

100%

 Week 33

41

1.400

41

1.382

16%

 Week 34

60

1.800

37

1.145

13%

 Week 35

90

2.700

44

1.388

16%

Week 36

110

3.300

67

2.006

23%

Week 37

120

3.600

782.24927%

Week 38

120

3.600

882.77133%

Week 39

120

3.600

1133.66844%