13.01.2005: Alliance founded by European rail freight carriers

The alliance of European rail freight companies “European Bulls” was officially inaugurated in Rotterdam today. Its members are Comsa Rail Transport (E-Barcelona), Ferrovie Nord Cargo Srl. (I-Milan), LTE Logistik- und Transport- GmbH (A-Graz), rail4chem Eisenbahnverkehrsgesellschaft mbH (D-Essen) and Viamont a.s. (CZ-Usti nad Labem). The main aim of European Bulls is to enable each member to provide safe, reliable, top-quality and customer-oriented rail freight services throughout Europe, ensuring that the rail sector continues to develop as a genuine alternative to road and in competition with the former monopoly suppliers.

Representatives from customers, politics, the carriers involved and European ports confirmed the importance of efficient international rail transport for industry in Europe at the inaugural ceremony held for the European Bulls in Rotterdam's World Port Centre. “We want to achieve a significant increase in rail's share of international transport services in the next few years,” comments European Bulls chairman Matthias Raith in describing the alliance's ambitions. “Our focus is on pan-European long-haul links.”

The members of the alliance have demonstrated that they can provide top-quality transport services in their home countries. With the European Bulls, they are pooling their experience and operating activities for international transport services. One partner will always be responsible to the customer for the entire international service offered. Via the alliance, each partner can guarantee that efficient rail companies with identical standards are used in all countries in which it does not operate itself. Trains are hauled without stops at national borders, no locomotive change being necessary. The European Bulls alliance also intends to take advantage of further synergies – for example, the partners are combining their purchasing activities, installing uniform IT systems and making English their joint language. Service quality is guaranteed by the use of standard quality assurance systems in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9000:2001 and SQAS.

The European Bulls alliance gives European industry a great incentive for using rail for international transport services in future.

Paul Mittertreiner, director commercial division Port of Rotterdam, emphasizes the role of the alliance for European ports: “Excellent rail services are becoming increasingly important for European ports. Rail will be a vital means of transport for moving the steadily growing volumes of goods fast and at a high quality level.” And Erich Staake, president of the port of Duisburg, adds: “European, that is to say cross-border, rail freight links require networks. The European Bulls alliance is a superb project for developing and implementing competitive services in the European intermodal transport sector.”

In explaining the reasons for the alliance, Raith notes that the significance of borders within Europe should disappear in line with the international networking of industry. The European Bulls will apply for permits in countries that have not yet liberalised their rail services. By establishing a European network of efficient rail freight links, the carriers are aiming to achieve annual growth of 35 % and a market share of at least 35 % by 2015. The alliance is represented by its managing director Rob Spierings.

Contact:

European Bulls
Managing director: Rob Spierings
Moezelweg 136a
NL-3198 LS EUROPOORT-Rotterdam
Portnumber 5601
Tel.: +31 1 81-25 10 47
Mail: info@european-bulls.com

COMSA Rail Transport
Edificio Numancia 1
C./Viriato, 47, 8a pl.
E-08014 Barcelona
Tel.: +34 9 33 66 21 29
Mail: comsarailtransport@comsa.com

Ferrovie Nord CARGO Srl.
via Londonio, 2
I-20154 Milano
Tel.: +39 02 34 66 48 00
Mail: info@ferrovienordcargo.it

LTE Logistik- und Transport- GmbH
Reininghausstraße 3
A - 8020 GRAZ
Tel.: +43 3 16 59 87-2 35
Mail: eibinger.gerhard@lte.at

rail4chem
Eisenbahnverkehrsgesellschaft mbH
Schützenbahn 60
45127 Essen
Tel.: +49 2 01 43 04-0
Hotline: 0700 – rail4chem
Mail: info@rail4chem.com

Viamont a.s.
Železničářská 1385,
CZ-400 03 Ústí nad Labem
Tel.: +42 04 75 30 01 11
Mail: ustinl@viamont.cz