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Credits: istockphoto.com, Eurogate Intermodal, TFG Transfracht 2022<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/NielsRiedel_500px.png” alt=”Portrait of Niels Riedel” title_text=”Portrait of Niels Riedel” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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Niels Riedel, <\/strong>Head of Sales at Eurogate Intermodal<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]LOGISTICS PILOT: For years, CT was predicted to have the highest growth rates in road logistics, at least in percentage terms. However, the reality is now showing a downward trend. How come?<\/strong><\/p>\n NIELS RIEDEL: <\/strong>At Eurogate Intermodal, we\u2019re not seeing a downward trend in maritime combined transport. Despite the general economic weakness, we\u2019re currently experiencing very good capacity utilisation, particularly in the import sector. Of course, we\u2019re keeping a close eye on market developments and adapting our services flexibly. LOGISTICS PILOT: Are infrastructure problems and high energy costs, particularly in rail-based transport, the biggest problems facing CT?<\/strong><\/p>\n RIEDEL: <\/strong>The state of the German rail network is currently below par, which is why measures and a new government package have been launched. We assume that the infrastructural challenges and their effects will be with us for the next few years. By contrast, after their rapid increase in 2022, energy costs have now become more predictable and are no longer the main cost driver. The current one is track prices. What we need is better predictability for the coming years\u00a0\u2013 ideally with binding details on rising track prices. RIEDEL: <\/strong>Route closures are a significant business risk for us. Not only do they lead to longer journey times, they also cause significantly higher costs, for example additional track access charges, increased energy consumption and longer locomotive and personnel deployment times. As a rule, we don\u2019t pass these additional costs on to our customers. We communicate possible impacts, such as delays or train cancellations, to our customers openly and as early as we can. The cost risks increase but we can only offset them via the market to a limited extent. This means even more precise planning and close dialogue with everyone involved. LOGISTICS PILOT: What should politics do to enable CT to grow? What has priority?<\/strong><\/p>\n RIEDEL: <\/strong>From our standpoint, there\u2019s only one thing CT needs\u00a0\u2013 reliability! Stable products can only be developed for the market if we can build on reliable framework conditions, for example concerning track utilisation fees, network access or long-term infrastructure planning. Access to the network must be organised fairly, and the conditions for the rendering of services must be improved. Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing the opposite. The increasing transfer of risk to the operators, for example through stricter penalty regulations for the non-usage of routes, is making it harder to develop new products. People are less willing to take risks, and innovation is slowing down. If politicians want CT to grow, these barriers must be removed. Regardless of this, at EGIM we\u2019re continuing to press ahead with the development of optimised solutions. Philipp Best, <\/strong>Head of Sales at TFG\u00a0Transfracht[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Philipp_Best_500px.png” alt=”Portrait of Philipp Best” title_text=”Portrait of Philipp Best” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13) 0%|#ffffff 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” top_divider_style=”waves2″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Whether due to a lack of funding for the outdated rail network, route closures or rising costs\u00a0\u2013 combined transport (CT) is currently grappling with a number of problems. However, Niels Riedel, Head of Sales at Eurogate Intermodal, and Philipp Best, Head of Sales at TFG\u00a0Transfracht, see more rays of hope than dark clouds on the horizon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":68273,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[297],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-point-of-view-en"],"yoast_head":"\n
PHILIPP BEST: <\/strong>We continue to maintain our positive growth expectations\u00a0\u2013 our figures at TFG also confirm this. Our business is developing well. Nevertheless, we mustn\u2019t forget the economic fluctuations of recent years. Events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis have had a huge impact on global supply chains\u00a0\u2013 and are still having an effect today. Then there are other challenges, such as rising costs, persistent or growing price pressure and the increasing shortage of skilled labour, which affect the entire industry. Despite these difficult conditions, we\u2019re succeeding in maintaining and continuously expanding our range of services in our AlbatrosExpress network. An example is our successful link to the JadeWeserPort with daily departures to and from 25\u00a0terminals in the German-speaking region.<\/p>\n
BEST: <\/strong>Volatile transport volumes and business fluctuations, in particular, are among the challenges that will accompany CT in the long term and will continue to do so in the future. Here, it\u2019s crucial to maintain a high level of flexibility and fast response times. Our nationwide train network, intelligent landing flow bundling and the integration of lorries as a mode of transport allow us to manage this very well. Digitalisation also plays a major role\u00a0\u2013 it\u2019s made a significant contribution to improving efficiency and transparency in logistics processes.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13) 0%|#ffffff 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” top_divider_style=”waves2″ top_divider_height=”55px” top_divider_flip=”horizontal” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_padding=”114px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]LOGISTICS PILOT: How do you deal with route closures, and what solutions do you have for them? Most importantly, though, how do you keep your customers informed of them?<\/strong><\/p>\n
BEST: <\/strong>Proactive and transparent customer communication is hugely important in the event of disruptions. We use several channels for this. On the one hand, we email our customers on our TFG-Info platform. On the other, the protected customer area of our website has a live ticker. In addition to reporting faults, we also always provide possible alternatives we can offer at short notice. Our dense network and close cooperation with partners and suppliers enable us to react flexibly to disruptions, for example by implementing diversions, using alternative terminals or deploying additional lorry capacity.<\/p>\n
BEST: <\/strong>Politics have already charted a significant course. Secured long-term funding for the modernisation and expansion of the rail infrastructure is essential. The course taken with corridor refurbishments promises considerable improvements in the medium to long term. Another focus should be on simplifying and speeding up authorisation procedures. (bre)<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n\u201cProactive and transparent customer communication is hugely important in the event of disruptions.\u201d<\/h3>\n