Intermodal Ambitions and Digital Couplers: UIP Plots the Next Chapter

Seventy-five years in, UIP isn’t just celebrating — it’s mobilising. From Valencia, Europe’s top wagon keepers laid down a bold agenda: 30% modal share, a full digital overhaul, and a freight system ready to compete on every corridor.

The International Union of Wagon Keepers (UIP) marked its 75th anniversary with a high-level summit in Valencia, gathering stakeholders from across Europe’s rail freight sector. Organised in collaboration with FAPROVE, Spain’s national wagon keepers’ association, the event doubled as both a strategic dialogue and a milestone celebration for UIP, founded in 1950.

UIP President Johann Feindert opened the summit by underlining a shift in mindset: "We want to take the best of every mode and offer the best possible service to our clients." UIP's strategic priorities for 2024–2029 emphasise interoperability, digitalisation, modal shift, and sustainable logistics. According to UIP, members manage more than 250,000 wagons, representing over half of Europe’s fleet, and invest EUR 2 billion annually in rolling stock.

Hoy en València, preparado para explicar en pocos minutos, los progresos del Corredor Mediterráneo en la Keepers’ Summit 2025 de UIP (International Union of Wagon Keepers)-Faprove. pic.twitter.com/5WNaBxSfEi

— Josep Vicent Boira Maiques (@JosepBoira) May 23, 2025

Integrating Spain: Corridors, Connections, and Commitments

Spain was at the heart of this year’s discussions, with a modal share of just 4% and a government goal to reach 10% by 2030. FAPROVE President Julián Gacimartín praised national investment backed by RRF and CEF funds, highlighting plans to modernise Spanish rail infrastructure and boost international corridor performance.

Spanish government representatives José Antonio Sebastián (Atlantic Corridor) and Josep Vicent Boira (Mediterranean Corridor) presented ongoing infrastructure efforts—mixed-gauge adaptations, cross-border upgrades, and digitalisation—to improve connectivity with Portugal and France. "There are clear plans in Spain with proper funding to make those necessary upgrades for a better network a reality," Feindert concluded.

Rolling Motorways and the Case for Intermodality

A key session, moderated by Antonio Martínez (Transporte XXI), explored the promise of rolling motorways. Panellists Mar Chao (Port of Valencia), Carlos Pereda (TRAMESA), Antonio Aguilar Mediavilla (ADIF), Juan Carlos Arocas (TRANS ITALIA), and Carlos Omaña (VTG) agreed on the demand potential, but stressed that loading gauge upgrades, terminal services, and infrastructure readiness remain critical bottlenecks. "The link between ports and rolling motorways needs to be seamless," argued Chao, reflecting a growing consensus that customer-focused rail logistics must rival road transport in turnaround speed and delivery certainty.

A second panel on intermodality, led by Aitor Vieco (El Mercantil), featured insights from Jaime González (EWALS), Xavier Jaso (AECOC), Nuria Lacaci (ACE), and Jordi Ortuño (ERMEWA). Their message: price, reliability, and sustainability drive shipper decisions. But without improved service design and outreach to SMEs, rail remains underutilised. "We need intermodal operators, not just rail operators," said Lacaci. "There is a lack of service culture and education—we need to show that all goods can go by train."

DAC and the TRANS4M-R Demonstration

The summit also featured a live demonstration of VOITH’s Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) CargoFlex, a flagship component of the TRANS4M-R project under Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking. DAC is a cornerstone of UIP’s strategic priorities and central to the broader European rail transformation, enabling automated coupling, brake testing, and data exchange.

UIP argues that DAC deployment should be backed by dedicated EU instruments, coordinated at the European level to ensure interoperability and scale. UIP Secretary General Gilles Peterhans reaffirmed: "If we want rail to compete with road, we must simplify access, harmonise rules, and improve data flow."

UIP’s European Legacy and Future Roadmap

Founded in 1950, UIP has grown into Europe’s leading advocate for private wagon keepers. The summit in Valencia followed previous editions in Vienna, Nice, and Venice, and coincided with the 75th anniversary of the association. Over the two days, rail executives including Cyrille Guyon, Jörg Nowaczyk (GATX), and Matthias Knüpling joined public officials to align on policy, infrastructure, and investment challenges.

UIP’s newly released strategy calls on the European Commission and national ministries to provide fairer access, balanced State aid, and a regulatory environment that doesn’t favour state-owned incumbents over private capital. The summit ended with a unified call for sustainable, multimodal, and interoperable rail logistics, fit for Europe’s climate and digital goals.

Sources: UIP; RAILTARGET