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.
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Hupac moves 1.1 million trucks and saves 1.5 million tonnes of CO2

Traffic development 2021 in combined transport

Chiasso, 27.1.2022    Despite the difficult economic situation, combined transport operator Hupac increased traffic volumes by 10.7% to around 1.1 million road consignments in 2021. The key success factors for the further shift of heavy goods traffic to rail are sufficient capacity in the network, high transport reliability and sustainable energy and rail costs. For the strategy period 2021-2026, Hupac is adopting an ambitious investment programme in rolling stock, transhipment terminals and information technology.

Contribution to the climate targets
Last year, the Hupac Group carried 1,123,562 road consignments or 2,118,000 TEU in combined road/rail transport and maritime hinterland transport. Compared to the previous year, around 100,000 additional trucks were shifted, representing a growth of 10.7%. "The climate targets are achievable," says Michail Stahlhut, CEO of the Hupac Group. "Compared to road transport alone, we have saved the environment 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 and reduced energy consumption by 17 billion megajoules – in addition to relieving the roads of the transport of 21 million tonnes of goods. We do our part by providing a reliable service and managing the network in an efficient, eco-friendly way." The environmental performance certification is available online for Hupac Intermodal's customers.  

 

Combined transport proves its value in the coronavirus crisis
All transport segments contributed to the positive development in 2021 to a comparable extent. Transalpine traffic grew by 11.0%*, which is due in particular to the successful use of the 4-metre corridor via Gotthard. In non-transalpine traffic (+10.4%), the southeast and southwest Europe segments developed dynamically. In maritime container transport, ERS Railways, a Hupac Group company, made up for the pandemic-related traffic losses of the previous year and generated satisfactory volume growth despite the continuing volatilities. Stahlhut: "The support measures in various countries helped us to maintain our network during the pandemic and thus secure supplies."

 

More modal shift through stable quality
The positive traffic development is not only due to the economic recovery in the past year, but also to the growing interest of logistics in competitive, climate-friendly transport solutions by rail. "With reliable services, we can meet the expectations of the industry and shift further significant volumes to rail," says Michail Stahlhut. "The prerequisite is stable quality. This requires better management of construction works today and in the coming years and decades, especially on the Rhine-Alpine corridor. Disruptions and inefficiencies like those in the second half of 2021 must not happen again."

 

Keywords for a sustainable improvement in quality are the organisation of weekend resets to stabilise the traffic situation, the improvement of construction site coordination between infrastructure managers and efficient traffic management with a noticeable reduction of disruption times.

 

The establishment of international bypasses, such as the upgrading of an alternative route on the left bank of the Rhine between Karlsruhe and Basel, is crucial for the coming years. "The additional capacity we need for reliable traffic management on the feeder routes to the Swiss base tunnels can be created in the short term with relatively little funding," explains Hans-Jörg Bertschi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hupac Ltd. "The expansion of the north-south axis on the Rhine left bank is an important prerequisite for the full utilisation of AlpTransit and for the further shift of transalpine freight traffic".

 

Energy crisis endangers eco-friendly rail transport
A further challenge for combined transport is the current explosion in energy costs. In various European countries, the costs for traction power have doubled or even tripled. The result is price increases that cannot be compensated for and that are putting a noticeable strain on the marketability of combined transport. "The energy costs in rail freight transport should be evaluated in macro-economic terms," demands Michail Stahlhut. "We can only achieve the Green Deal targets with competitive prices. A subsidy for electricity transmission costs - i.e. the price component for rail power facilities, overhead lines, etc. - would mitigate the current situation and send an important signal to the market."

 

Hupac adopts Strategy 2021-2026
For the coming years, Hupac anticipates significant interest in combined transport as a contribution to achieving the net zero climate target. "With our Strategy 2021-2026, we are setting the course for growth that meets the Green Deal expectations," says Hans-Jörg Bertschi. "With an annual volume growth of 7%, we are aiming for a volume of 1.5 million road consignments by 2026." In the coming years, Hupac will strengthen its offer in the core market of transalpine transport through Switzerland and work for productivity improvements to compensate for the reduction in subsidies. Other key development areas are southern Italy, Spain, eastern and south-eastern Europe. The investment programme for the next five years provides for CHF 300 million for terminals, rolling stock and IT systems.