The Next Rail Freight Giant? Ermewa's Bold Vision for 2030

Ermewa SA plans to grow its fleet to over 60,000 wagons by 2030. The company focuses on intermodality, sustainability, and decarbonization to support Europe’s Green Deal objectives.

What does it take to lead Europe's rail freight revolution? Ermewa SA is setting ambitious goals that could reshape the industry.

Ermewa’s Current Fleet and Future Ambitions

In an interview with Dopravní noviny, Cyrille Guyon, Deputy General Manager at Ermewa SA said, "We currently manage a fleet of 50,000 freight wagons, and by 2030, we aim to exceed 60,000 wagons." 

With the European Green Deal focusing on significant CO2 emission reductions, the rail freight sector is poised for rapid growth. According to Guyon, "The transition to rail involves the entire ecosystem, not just wagons, and intermodality is a key driver." Ermewa has been heavily investing in wagons tailored to meet the needs of various industries, including automotive, aggregates, construction, chemicals, energy, grain, intermodal transport, steel, and pallets. "Intermodality is critical for capturing freight volumes efficiently," Guyon pointed out, noting the company’s focus on supporting sectors affected by the Green Deal’s environmental goals. This includes specialized wagons for the automotive industry and other green transport solutions.

Production Challenges, Technological Advancements, and Decarbonization at Ermewa

According to Guyon, Ermewa recognizes that the European manufacturing sector faces fluctuating capacities. "Production in Europe can vary significantly year by year. However, there is growing interest from manufacturers outside the EU, such as Turkey, in entering the European market," he explained. The company remains committed to integrating advanced technologies to meet evolving market demands and drive sustainability since there is still room for improvement across the ecosystem.

Decarbonization remains a central focus for Ermewa among other things, according to Dopravní noviny. Rail freight is six times more energy-efficient than road transport in terms of energy consumption per ton-kilometer, as The World Economic Forum reports. The company has implemented several measures to reduce its carbon footprint:

• Energy-efficient practices: Achieving a 21% reduction in energy consumption (2006–2020).
• Fleet modernization and electrification.
• Energy recovery systems during braking.
• Driver training programs for optimized energy use.
• Driver assistance system.
• Improved traffic management.

"Our technologies and innovations directly contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of rail freight transport," Guyon commented.

As Ermewa moves towards its 2030 goals, the company remains focused on innovation, sustainability, and supporting Europe’s transition to greener transport solutions.

Source: Dopravní noviny