L4 Logistics | Transport Shipping and Logistics News

 In 2005, Hupac handled about 520,000 consignments by rail. This represents an increase of 15.9% compared to the previous year. The strong competitive pressure among combi operators, the intensified price competition with road traffic and cutbacks in public subsidies have brought about slightly lower financial results.“The opening of the market is attracting more goods to rail,” is how Chairman of the Board Hans-Jörg Bertschi summarises the current situation. “Over the last five years, the transfer policies in alpine transit have had an effect. Truck journeys have fallen by 14 percent, while intermodal traffic tonnage has increased by 50 percent. So far, Hupac is the only operator in Europe taking full advantage of the liberalisation. Other players in this market have recently been deprived of this opportunity, because the state railways have taken over a majority of their shares. This is delaying the opening of the rail market.” Bertschi wants a commitment from the public sector to oppose the re-monopolisation of the railways. “With Rail Reform 2, what is needed is an active regulatory authority able to drive forward the opening of this market. The new law on goods transport must, in Hupac’s view, ensure the financial encouragement towards the shift even after 2010.”Major developments in the last year include the commissioning of the expanded Busto Arsizio-Gallarate terminal in the north of Milan, and the granting of the integrated traction to five railway enterprises in three countries: SBB Cargo, Stinnes Intermodal (Railion), Trenitalia Cargo, Ferrovie Nord Cargo and Rail4Chem. “The price/performance ratio is better than ever, punctuality is improving, and in the event of irregularities, the single point of contact we have now can react faster,” states a delighted director Bernhard Kunz. In the last year, Hupac has set up 10 new connections with around 100 additional trains per week. This has happened not only in the North-South traffic through the Swiss Alps, but also in the East-West links between the harbours in the West and Germany or Poland.For the current year 2006 Hupac are again reckoning on traffic growth in double digits. The company is planning the introduction of several connections, including a connection from the Baltic Sea at Travemünde to Novara west of Milan, and a link from Belgium to north-east Italy.The Hupac Group in figuresIn 2005 Hupac dispatched on average 82 trains per day, with a total of 519,160 consignments by rail (+15.9%). Traffic in the main business, Shuttle Net (UCT), increased by 17.2% and reached a volume of 495,659 consignments. Of that, 374,993 (+13,3%) went through the Alps,120,666 (+31,2%) went on non-transalpine stretches, primarily from harbours in the West into the European heartland, and also interconnecting transports within Italy.The only decline was in the expanded Rolling Highway service through the Gotthard tunnel between southern Germany, Tessin and North Italy which recorded a drop of 6.6% with 23,501 loaded trucks.The expanded terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate north of Milan opened in September 2005, and handles 110 train pairs per week. Two-thirds of the shuttle trains are destined for North and Central Europe, one third go to the South or the East of Italy.The Hupac Group’s 2005 financial results are satisfactory. Group turnover is up by 16.7% to CHF 406.8 million compared to the previous year. Gross profit comes out at just under CHF 89 million, the same level as last year. EBIT is down by 7.2% to CHF 10.3 million, and net profit is down by 1.2% at CHF 6.5 million, partly because of the further reduction in the Federal operating subsidy. Cash flow of CHF 50.3 million (4.2%) was used to finance investments in tangible assets of CHF 47.7 million (20%). This was mainly for the expansion of the Busto Arsizio terminal in the Gallarate district in Italy, and the acquisition of additional rolling stock.The results in the 2005 financial year were achieved with 347 employees. Of those, 121 work in Switzerland and 226 abroad. During 2005 Hupac created 20 new jobs, representing an increase of 6.1%.  Source: Press Release