We shape the future of intermodal transport

 

Intermodal

We connect rail with road and sea all over Europe and beyond.

 

Connected

Our customers benefit from the power of a strong network.

 

Smart

We are the smart way of doing intermodal, with a wide range of services at a fair price.

 

Safe

Safety is our top priority: today and tomorrow.

 

Service

We run the extra-mile for our customers.

 

Quality

We fight for upgrading the performance of the rail system.

 

Agile

We listen, we cooperate, we develop, we deliver.

 

Emission-free

Together we make the green revolution happen.

Moving together 

 

The strategy of Hupac is based on strengths that have been built up over many years. The core elements are the demand-oriented development of a network for combined transport, independence from the railways and investments in own resources such as rail wagons, terminals and information technology.


Hupac’s target for the strategy period 2022-2026 is an annual volume increase of 7%. With a forecast economic growth of 2%, this will achieve a real shift of freight traffic from road to rail.


By 2026, Hupac aims to reach a traffic volume of 1.6 million road consignments, which corresponds to an increase of 40% compared to 2021. To achieve this goal, the Board of Directors has approved an investment programme of CHF 300 million.

Strategy 2026 in figures

 

Modal shift

1.6 million trucks transported by rail

 

Investment

CHF 300 million with focus on terminals, digitalisation, rail cars

 

Terminal capacity

1.3 million loading units in 7 new significant plants or expansions

 

Quality

90% punctuality by 2026

 

 

 

Modal shift: target 2026
Road consignments in the Hupac Group network

Competitive solutions for modal shift 

 

Stabilise the core business and exploit growth potentials – these are the guidelines of the Strategy 2026. The background is the upcoming expiry of operating subsidies for combined transport in Alpine transit through Switzerland. With the commissioning of AlpTransit, productivity advantages can be gradually exploited, such as more payload per locomotive, longer trains, shorter journey times. The core task for the 2022-2026 strategy period is to consistently integrate these factors into existing transport concepts.

 

In addition, the growth potentials arising in other areas of Europe should continue to be exploited. These include the axes of south-east, south-west and north-east Europe as well as new market segments such as maritime hinterland transport.

 

The optimisation of processes and the intelligent use of resources such as rail wagons and terminals are further fields of action. The central challenge is the efficient management of the network and the achievement of a quality level in line with requirements in a market that is characterised by capacity bottlenecks in certain phases as demand increases. Flexibility, digital intelligence and close cooperation with partners are the basic prerequisites for performance and customer satisfaction.

Strategic priorities

  • Quality leadership in European intermodal markets
  • Investments in market expansion and partnerships for modal shift
  • Digital transformation of our offerings and driving of sector standards
  • Attract talents and develop diversity for growth
  • Political advocacy to improve modal shift conditions and grow capacity.
Download

Contact

Extension of subsidies until 2030 creates investment security

Media Conference of the Hupac Group

Chiasso, 12.6.2020   With the parliamentary decision to extend the promotion of combined transport through the Alps until 2030 and to significantly increase the amounts compared to the government’s request, Switzerland is sending a clear signal in favour of modal shift. The EU Mobility package, on the other hand, will weaken international combined transport in Europe. In the current Corona crisis, Hupac welcomes the measures planned by the Federal Office of Transport to maintain the intermodal transport networks. Despite COVID-19, Hupac is looking ahead: Erich Staake and Beni Kunz were newly elected to the Board of Directors, while Michail Stahlhut was appointed CEO of the Hupac Group.

 

Setting the course for the future

On 12 June 2020, the General Assembly Meeting of Hupac Ltd took place for the first time without shareholder presence due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Via a proxy process, the shareholders approved a satisfactory financial statement for 2019. In addition, they strengthened the Board of Directors with the election of two new members. Erich Staake (66), general director of duisport AG, has developed the Duisburg location into a major platform for trimodal logistics in Europe and into an important hub for Silk Road transportation. His many years of extensive experience in intermodal transport – especially land transport to and from China – will give Hupac new impetus in this growing market.

 

Beni Kunz (62) is also newly elected to the Board of Directors of Hupac. After 16 years of successful management of the Group, he is handing over the operational management to younger hands. In his new function as executive board member, he will support Hupac in strategic projects and thus continue to significantly contribute to the development of the company in the coming years.

 

Also on 12 June 2020 the Board of Directors appointed Michail Stahlhut (52) as the new CEO of Hupac Group. After his two-year introductory period as CEO of the subsidiary Hupac Intermodal, which operates the Hupac Group's continental transports, he is very familiar with the business. "With this baton handover we are taking an important step for the future of our 50 year old company", says Chairman of the Board Hans-Jörg Bertschi.

 

Investment security thanks to extended support for Alpine combined transport until 2030

The extension and increase of the subsidies creates an important basis for the continuation of the modal shift in Alpine transit. The operating contributions to combined transport operators through Switzerland were originally to be discontinued at the end of 2023. However, as the upgrade of the northern access routes to the base tunnels has been delayed by at least a decade, combined transport on this route is not yet able to develop the productivity required to cover the costs of a competitive offer.

 

At the beginning of June, the Swiss parliament decided to continue the subsidies until 2030 and to increase them by CHF 385 million. This is significantly more than the CHF 90 million requested by the government for the period to 2026. Compared with the current level, however, subsidies will be halved. This development will demand further productivity increases from all those involved in the combined transport chain.

 

Parliament has thus adopted a much more modal shift friendly solution than originally envisaged by the Federal Council. "An important signal for the market", explains Hans-Jörg Bertschi, "Switzerland is consistently committed to modal shift. This gives the companies involved the certainty that investments in environmentally friendly combined transport will continue to be a convenient choice”.

 

Mobility package compromise weakens combined transport

One of the central framework conditions of combined transport is the fair regulation of pre- and post-carriage by road. Since 1975, international combined transport in the EU has been put on an equal footing with international road haulage, in that national road cabotage rules are not applicable in either case. The Mobility package compromise, which is to be adopted by the EU Parliament at the beginning of July, places combined transport at a disadvantage compared with international road transport.

 

The Mobility package will allow member states to apply cabotage rules to the national pre- and post-carriage of combined transport in future. "This will significantly weaken combined transport in Europe and may jeopardise the Green Deal. The exemption of pre- and post-carriage from the cabotage rules is to remain binding so that combined transport can be prevented from being put at a disadvantage compared to road transport. We hope that the EU Commission will make further changes here in favour of climate and environmental protection", commented Hans-Jörg Bertschi.

 

Corona crisis impacts traffic development in 2020 – especially with Italy

As a result of the Corona crisis, Hupac expects a sharp drop in volume for the current year. After a positive first quarter, transport demand fell in April – as a result of the Europe-wide lockdown and the special situation in Italy, where even the industry was shut down for three weeks. Although there are currently signs of recovery, Hupac’s traffic losses will be substantial by the end of the year.

 

Hupac is well positioned for the Corona crisis. The safety measures introduced in the terminals and the conversion to home office have enabled the company to continue its operational activities during the crisis without interruption. In addition, the strong financial position and the additional measures taken to increase the liquidity of the Hupac Group are decisive prerequisites for a successful, crisis-resistant logistics offer.

 

Continue modal shift success, bridge Corona crisis

In spite of these precautions, the pandemic-induced slump in traffic, especially in Italy, has a considerable impact on the network of Hupac and the other operators. Due to the lower demand, the capacity utilisation of trains is falling and departures have to be cancelled. The losses for operators in combined transport through Switzerland will significantly affect the actors' ability to act in the future.

 

The players in intermodal transport can hardly cope with the resulting deficits on their own, says Hans-Jörg Bertschi: "Without appropriate countermeasures, we risk that the modal shift will be set back by years". Hupac therefore welcomes the initiative of the Swiss parliament to compensate for part of the COVID-19-induced losses in public transport, so that the offer is maintained for the post-crisis period. "Switzerland's modal shift policy with the NRLA and the 4-metre corridor is a generation project", says Bertschi, "The measures envisaged will help combined transport operators to maintain their services during the crisis and thus to continue to achieve a modal shift in Alpine transit".

 

Combined transport: strengthening the positive footprint

Measures to support eco-friendly rail freight transport were also taken by Italy, Germany and Austria. "In some cases this is no more than a drop in the ocean", warns Michail Stahlhut, CEO of Hupac. "Without partial compensation, combined transport operators are forced to reduce their offer, which would trigger a dangerous downward spiral in modal shift".

 

In a long-term view, however, combined transport has the best chances of contributing to the success of the European Green Deal. In the Hupac Group's network alone – with a transport volume of 1 million road consignments – around 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 were saved in 2019 compared to pure road transport.

 

The central prerequisite for the success of combined transport is the expansion of the railway infrastructure to allow train length of 750 metres and profile P400. The importance of largely dimensioned rail capacity was demonstrated in the Corona crisis: "During the reduction of passenger traffic caused by the crisis, our trains were finally able to run with good punctuality values," says Stahlhut.