photo: VPI / Public domain/Discussion panel featuring Axel Marschall, Malte Lawrenz, Carsten Schiering, and Ludolf Kerkeling
The 15th VPI Symposium in Hamburg convened 250 industry leaders and policymakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Germany's rail freight sector.
With a strong focus on infrastructure renewal, innovation, and policy reform, the event focused on the urgency of ensuring rail freight’s competitiveness and environmental contributions.
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Today, January 14, 2025, the 15th VPI Symposium brought together leading experts, stakeholders, and policymakers in the rail freight sector to discuss…
A Call for Clear Political Action
Malte Lawrenz, Chairman of the Verband der Privatgüterwagen-Interessenten (VPI), opened the symposium with a powerful message about the transformative journey ahead for Germany’s rail sector. "We are facing a comprehensive transformation of the railway industry that will demand significant effort from all stakeholders," he said, also mentioning the need for a federal commitment to innovation and infrastructure renewal.
Lawrenz called on the incoming German government to prioritize rail freight as a sustainable transport mode. He mentioned the necessity of a long-term financing strategy, including creating a rail fund modeled after Switzerland’s system, to ensure planning security for future investments. "An efficient rail freight system is indispensable—for both our economy and climate protection," he stated.
Addressing the Industry’s Pain Points
The symposium was dedicated to several critical areas requiring immediate attention, including digitization, efficiency improvements, and network upgrades. Lawrenz also stressed the importance of continued support for European Train Control System (ETCS) and Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) projects, a reformed track pricing system, and the detachment of DB InfraGo from the Deutsche Bahn Group to ensure more competitive and transparent infrastructure management, which RAILTARGET previously reported about. The discussion also addressed the need to strengthen single wagonload traffic and combined transport solutions to improve overall system resilience.
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Infrastructure Renewal, Market Competitiveness, Innovations, and Trends Shaping the Future
During the morning session, Thomas Dittmann (Die Güterbahnen) provided an in-depth assessment of DB InfraGo’s comprehensive renovation strategy. His analysis focused on both the opportunities and challenges of transforming Germany’s rail infrastructure into a high-performance network capable of meeting future demands.
Ludolf Kerkeling (HVLE) discussed the competitiveness of single wagonload traffic, emphasizing the need for targeted subsidies to sustain this critical mode of transport. A subsequent panel, featuring Kerkeling, Axel Marschall (Infront), and Carsten Schiering (TWA), delved into the industry’s expectations of policymakers and the urgent challenges to be addressed.
The afternoon shifted focus to technological advancements and future trends. Axel Marschall (Infront) shared insights into developments within the automotive sector, mentioning rail freight’s growing role in supporting sustainable supply chains.
One of the most anticipated presentations came from Stefan Kirch (Nevomo) and Jonas Tesch (Captrain), who introduced the innovative MagRail system. This hybrid technology, which integrates magnetic levitation into existing rail systems, promises to revolutionize capacity and efficiency in rail freight.
Progress on Digital Automatic Coupling
The day concluded with an update on the DACFIT project from Jens Engelmann (railiable) and Heiko Radke (VERS). Their presentation outlined the progress in implementing DAC, a critical technology for modernizing rail freight. DAC enables automated coupling processes, reducing manual labor, increasing operational efficiency, and paving the way for fully digitalized freight systems.
Overall, the 15th VPI Symposium once again proved the pressing need for collaborative efforts between the rail industry and policymakers to address the sector's challenges. As Lawrenz emphasized, "The industry needs reliability in federal support for upcoming investment decisions." With a renewed focus on sustainability, innovation, and infrastructure renewal, Germany's rail freight sector will play a crucial role in the nation’s transport and climate strategies.
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Source: VPI; RAILTARGET