In 2023, combined road-rail transport volumes handled by the Swiss company Hupac recorded a decrease of -11.7% on the previous year, having amounted to approximately 975 thousand road shipments, decrease - explained the Swiss company - which is a consequence of the decline in demand for transport in Europe, price increases in the rail system little compatible with the market and significant quality deficiencies of the German rail network, which are putting pressure on the Environmentally friendly combined transport.

Last year, Hupac in the main transport market through Switzerland, has moved by rail a traffic amounted to 540 thousand road shipments, down -7.6%, while non-transalpine traffic was about 435 thousand shipments (-7.1%).

With regard to the limitations of the railway infrastructure characterized the 2023 financial year, the company highlighted in firstly, the poor quality of the rail network; particularly in Germany, due to neglected maintenance and inadequate planning of construction sites at national level, and international. Capacity reductions, delays and Train cancellations - Hupac denounced - are the order of the day on many corridors. In addition, the serious accident in the tunnel Gotthard, which took place in August 2023, represented a Another extraordinary factor. "Fortunately," he said. said the CEO of the Hupac Group, Michail Stahlhut - the impact on freight transport is reduced, as Effective solutions have been found together with SBB. We expect whereas the forthcoming and much-needed general overhaul of the network German railways are operated in a manner compatible with the market, so as not to nip in the bud the conversion of transport politically desirable'.

Hupac also highlighted the negative impact of the sharp increase in the costs of the railway system, with peaks of double-digit percentages, with high train path and train path costs - underlined the Swiss company - that are disproportionate to the service provided. "We have to do Everything possible to stop the trend to reshift traffic from rail to road. On the other hand, the system is deprived of the support it urgently needs, especially in times of crisis. The current, unplanned reduction of track cost subsidies in Germany is worsening the framework conditions for combined transport and, given the current situation of margins, will inevitably lead to the additional costs on the market'.

Hupac, on the other hand, welcomed the encouraging the transfer of traffic from the road to the of the Swiss Federal Office of Transport, as - it has observed the company - the subsidy measures are stable and have thus a countercyclical effect, building confidence and supporting the market in the long run. Noting the importance of continuing to support transalpine combined transport in the coming years, the Chairman of Hupac, Hans-Jörg Bertschi, specified that "the Planned focus on transalpine transport at short distances from the Southern Germany and Switzerland must not be to the detriment of other segments. Long-haul transport, in particular - has explained - is at risk of relocation due to the precarious performance situation and must be able to count on a support unchanged'.

Meanwhile, Hupac has announced a further expansion of its transalpine network via Switzerland with new connections between Zeebrugge and northern Italy through the increase in frequency of the Zeebrugge-Novara service, which has risen from nine to ten weekly rotations, with a greater frequency of service as well Zeebrugge-Busto Arsizio increased from five to six rotations weekly and with the activation of a new link Zeebrugge-Piacenza which includes two weekly rotations.