Despite somewhat unfavourable market conditions, Swiss logistics operator Hupac kept stable volumes in 2024. The company reported minor decreases in three sectors: road consignment in road-rail multimodal transport, transalpine transport through Switzerland, and non-transalpine traffic.
In total, Hupac handled 949,000 road consignments in road-rail combined transport, a decrease of 2.6 per cent year on year. The company’s transalpine transport figures overall remained broadly stable – down just a fifth of one per cent. However, non-transalpine traffic volumes declined by 1.2 per cent. “In addition to the cyclical decline in demand for transport, the problematic condition of the rail network is the main reason for the below-expectations development of traffic”, the company pointed out.
Diversion through France
The company is active in rolling stock procurement and leasing, but it is mainly known for its international intermodal operations. That sector has been under pressure throughout Europe, as recently reported by our sister service, RailFreight.com. Hupac is however confident it has bucked that trend.
Hupac says its relatively stable numbers were down to the introduction of a diesel shuttle service along non-electrified railways on the French side of the Rhine. These replaced normal routes during the renovation of the Rhine Valley railway in Germany. In cooperation with Captrain France and SBB, Hupac says it diverted twenty freight trains every day on the line between Offenburg and Wörth.
Infrastructure issues
Having trains going through France rather than Germany might become a more common practice for the Swiss operator. “Since the beginning of 2025, we have been routing some of our Belgium-Italy traffic through France instead of Germany. This enables us to counter the risk of irregularities and increase the reliability of our transport operations,” said Hupac CEO Michail Stahlhut, who added that more diversion routes are planned.
In a statement, Hupac put some blame for lacklustre corporate performance at the door of European rail infrastructure. “The problematic condition of the rail network is the main reason for the below-expectations development of traffic,” said the company. “The precarious performance of an ageing rail infrastructure, particularly in Germany, is a burden on transport reliability. However, the recently completed refurbishment of the Riedbahn line between Frankfurt and Mannheim shows that freight-friendly construction is possible.”
Stable volumes, low threshold
Hupac says it wants to see sufficient capacity for train paths on the alternative routes. It puts forward the radical suggestion of thinning out passenger traffic through the establishment of rail replacement services. More conventionally, they call for more electrified diversionary routes, and harmonising of gauge restrictions and maintenance regimes. They also call for the eminently sensible coordination of works on international corridors, giving rail operators sufficient time for the railways to prepare.
Despite managing to keep volumes stable in 2024, Hupac was starting from a relatively low threshold, as volumes in 2023 decreased on all fronts. With thanks to Marco Raimondi at RailFreight.com for original reporting.