Seven seven leading European rail freight operators have officially created the Xrail alliance, who says its goal is to render international wagonload traffic by rail more customer friendly and efficient. The alliance aims to increase the competitiveness of wagonload traffic in Europe significantly, thus helping take traffic off the roads and protect the environment. The seven partners are: 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).

The alliance said it intends to boost the quality and competitiveness of European wagonload transport vis-à-vis road haulage.

"Close cooperation on production and information processes can help us unlock significant potential in efficiency and quality," Xrail Project Leader Günther J. Ferk said.

The Xrail cross-border production standard benefits wagonload customers in three areas: reliability(at least 90% in international wagonload traffic on the Xrail network); transparency (international timetables from customer siding to customer siding, active information systems); and offering process (standard response time of three days maximum).

Xrail said it intends to expand its network in stages, the long-term goal being to encompass the entire European wagonload traffic network. Fixed costs make up circa 90% of the cost of wagonload traffic; therefore the partners in the alliance are taking every effort to make optimum use of their respective networks in order to ensure the further development of wagonload traffic.

About Xrail
Xrail was initiated in 2007 under the leadership of the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Paris. Under the coordination and support of UIC the alliance partners have since been developing and designing international production standards, the necessary IT tools, and quality improvement measures as well as elaborating the alliance agreement. "The alliance is laying the foundation for a sustainable wagonload network throughout Europe," Oliver Sellnick, UIC Freight Director, said.