Polish operator Laude Smart Intermodal has big plans for rail freight. It announced an investment of around one billion zloty, or 240 million euros, in three years. A part of that money is to be used for a new product: “Time for revolution”.
Those are big words from Laude, but what are the company’s plans exactly? “In 2025, we will begin implementing our new product “time for revolution”, Laude CEO Marcin Witczak told Polish media. “One customer equals one container, and transport will be based on regular connections. The years 2025 and 2026 will be transitional for us, while in 2027 we want to offer access to such a service to all our customers and run such trains to practically all of Europe.”
In other words, Laude wants to offer flexible single wagon load services around the Old Continent. In order to do that, it also has some technological cards to play, it says. “Laude wants to be a creator of this market, not just its participant”, Witczak said. “We have a large investment plan ahead of us exceeding one billion zloty, and completely new, unknown technologies on the market that we want to offer to allow for the transport of loads at prices and times that are competitive for road carriers.”
Regular connections
As part of the billion zloty investment, the company has already spent 400 million zloty on “proprietary solutions” for transporting various goods, which includes steel and grain products. It says that it has developed a closed system with innovative tractor units, semi-trailers, container platforms, and seven types of special containers, all of which is managed via an internet browser.
Lastly, Laude is betting on becoming the bridge between Poland, Ukraine and the rest of Europe. To that end, it is looking to expand its network of regular connections. “We continue to focus on increasing our presence in transport to the ports of Greater Odessa and back. This, together with the connection of Ukraine with the European Union, is one of the key elements of our preparations for the period when the reconstruction of Ukraine will begin”, Witczak concluded.