ASSOCIATION

Portrait

The VAP association has been promoting rail freight transport since 1912.

With an active transport policy, it works to optimise the political and economic framework conditions, the railway infrastructure and the logistic centres in such a way that rail, as part of the multimodal logistics world, remains a valuable transport solution in the future. This is in the interest of both the environment and the Swiss living and economic space.

VAP represents around 300 companies from the shippers’ and logistic industry in Switzerland and neighbouring countries. They operate 750 sidings and terminals, transhipment facilities, traction vehicles and 52,000 private freight wagons. With its practice-oriented membership and consulting activities, VAP also helps shippers and the logistics industry to minimise the costs of rail freight transport.

That’s how we make a difference for you:

With profound expertise in all areas of freight transport, nationally and internationally

By promoting and networking stakeholders

In a neutral position between the stakeholders

Thanks to a very good reputation and broad support among our members

With international knowledge and relations

With good connections into politics

Ready for you to download:

2022/2023 VAP annual report (german or french)
Annual review 2023 (german or french)
VAP articles of association (German and French only) | PDF | 23 KB

Focus topics

Freight transport in the area

What about wagonload traffic? How systemically relevant is it?

More about freight transport industry

Digitalisation in rail freight transport

How rail freight transport can become more efficient, productive and attractive, and thus competitive in the multimodal logistics chain of the economy.

Interoperability

The optimisation of processes and interfaces and the connection with the 4th EU railway package.

TEN T Core Network Corridors (Freight And Passenger) RYB17 Blog

Responsibilities

You can count on us in this regard:

Consulting: We advise member companies
Exchange of experience: We maintain the exchange of experience between the relevant market players.
Drafting: We draw up technical, operational, legal and economic standards.
Representation of interests: We represent the interests of our member companies vis-à-vis parliaments, authorities, industry and other institutions.

Engagement

We are involved in the following interest groups and organisations:

Wagonload Transport Interest Group (IG WLV)

In 2018, the VAP, together with SBB Cargo and the Association of Public Transport (VöV/UTP), founded the Swiss Wagonload Transport Interest Group – IG WLV Schweiz for short.
The interest group aims to promote the further development of wagonload traffic in Switzerland. In the common interest, it pursues the goal of providing the services of the railway system more effectively and efficiently and thus enabling a self-sustaining and sustainable development of rail freight transport in the sense of the GüTG. The system of wagonload traffic is to be aligned with the strengths of the railway and the needs of the customers and is to be regarded as an integral part of the overall logistics. Both rail providers and customers should benefit equally from its cost-effectiveness and reliability.
The stakeholders of IG WLV regularly exchange views on various topics in board meetings. In addition, in regular workshops they shed light on the concrete challenges and hurdles of the railway system, such as the development possibilities in single wagonload traffic or the reasons why customers are dissatisfied with the current situation. Reports on the work of the IG WLV

Cargo Forum Switzerland (CFS)

The Cargo Forum Switzerland (CFS) is an interest group of associations for the benefit of freight transport. The CFS promotes the interests of freight transport in politics, administration and the public. It aims to better highlight the economic importance of freight transport and to represent its interests on a higher level. The CFS contributes to political solutions and promotes fair and practicable framework conditions. It forms a platform for the freight transport industry, authorities and politicians.

-> More about the Cargo Forum Switzerland

Umbrella organisation of the Swiss economy “economiesuisse”

As a national federation, economiesuisse represents the interests of the competitive, internationally networked and responsible Swiss business community.

Association of Public Transport VöV/UTP

The Association of Public Transport is the national umbrella organisation of public transport companies.

LITRA

LITRA is an association that promotes public transport in Switzerland.

UIP International Union of Wagon Keepers

Founded in 1950, the UIP – International Union of Wagon Keepers, with its seat in Brussels, is the umbrella association of national associations from fourteen European countries. The UIP represents the members’ concerns at international level.

European Rail Freight Association ERFA

All ERFA members share a commitment to work towards a non-discriminatory, competitive and innovative Single European Railway market by promoting attractive, fair and transparent market conditions for all rail enterprises. http://erfarail.eu/

Swiss Supply

The association Swiss Supply aims to promote the reputation of logistics, supply chain and transport in Switzerland and aims to inform and educate the public about the fundamental importance of value chains, the contribution of the sectors responsible for the supply of goods and disposal / recycling to the economy and society as well as the diversity of job descriptions and career opportunities within these industries and functions.

You can read more about the latest developments and insights from our engagement on a regular basis in our expert blog.

Blog

Positioning

«We represent all the players who get goods moving on the rails – comprehensively and farsightedly. And we stand up for what benefits everyone.»

DEFINITION RAIL FREIGHT TRANSPORT

The core area of rail freight transport comprises the commercial transport services of goods trains. In addition to the actual transport, there are also pre- and post-transport operations and processes, such as the loading of goods onto the rail mode of transport.

One of the special features of rail freight transport is that in addition to the classic players in freight transport, the freight consignor, the freight forwarder and the freight consignee, infrastructure companies are heavily involved in the production process and production quality due to the system characteristics. This often involves several railway infrastructure companies that operate, among other things, railway lines, freight stations, sidings, transhipment stations, marshalling yards, etc.

The quality of rail services depends on three factors: Network, operations and sites

Organisation

The structure of the rail freight system is historically complex. For this reason, we have a lean organisation and can act for you all the more effectively.

For general questions or initial contact, please contact General Secretary Frank Furrer.