For the first time since 2018, the Siding Forum was held again on 15 November 2022. The speakers agreed: sidings can very well be operated successfully, as long as the operators invest money and time in planning, expertise and safety.
That’s what it’s all about:
- Sidings can be operated successfully. But it requires money and planning.
- Pragmatic safety checks make it possible to compare theory and practice.
- The exchange of experience within the industry and the expert support provided by the VAP are welcomed.
Critical view
In the first part of the forum we brought up the new roles in wagonload traffic. In his welcome address, VAP Secretary General Frank Furrer took a critical look at the current consultation process. He called on those present to contribute their ideas for successful rail freight transport in industry discussions. What is needed is a reorganisation of the roles of the players on the last mile, in distribution and in production. There is also a need for a more flexible use of resources such as wagons and locomotives through new business models. A study by the VAP in 2013 already showed at that time that competition-oriented cooperation leads to a system with more efficient service provision and more traffic.
Operation
Thomas Keller, Head of Logistics at Perlen Papier AG, spoke about the successful operation of the sidings. He described the recruitment of qualified employees as a major challenge for his sidings in Gisikon/Root. The necessary training costs a lot of money and requires far-sighted planning. Other factors are the complex operating regulations and the maintenance of the company’s own locomotives. Thomas Keller shared with the guests his experiences with Article 6a of the Freight Transport Ordinance and RailCom. Thanks to good advice from the VAP, it was possible to find an adequate special solution for access to the Perlen Papier AG siding, according to which no use by third parties is possible because the facilities are not suitable for this and expansion projects exist.
Safety checks
Ueli Remund, member of the siding staff at Planzer Transport AG, used the organisation and processes as an example to show how important clean documentation and safety checks are, e.g. to ensure safety and traceability. Such documentation is essential for the successful operation of railway sidings. Planzer needed to refine the internal controls of the sidings. Ueli Remund recommended hiring the VAP expert service provider to do this if the expertise is lacking in-house.
Maintenance
Heinrich Maurer, Head of Real Estate at mobilog AG, highlighted maintenance and its reliable planning with the support of the VAP, using the example of the company’s own siding. This is an important part of the transport logistics; after all, 70% of the inbound volume is delivered by rail. mobilog AG decided to load onto the train after the Gotthard tunnel was closed for a long time due to an accident. Heinrich Maurer considers this decision to have been the right one in the long term.
Duty of supervision
In the second part, Henrik Lippmann, lead auditor at the FOT’s Safety Supervision Section, reported on the experience gained from the safety supervision of adjoining companies. This supervisory duty brings added value to the companies. Many railway operators are not familiar with the railway, which is why the audits are often tantamount to advice. The online siding directory is an important tool. Siding owners can use this to file documents digitally, set up automatic notifications and for other useful functions. Henrik Lippmann also provided information about the upcoming changes in the 2024 amendment cycle to the Driving Service Regulations (FDV), which will lead to simplifications in the shunting area of the sidings.
Dialogue
In the panel discussion, the speakers discussed the topic “Safety in reality and theory – are there differences?”. Interested shippers, freight railways and service providers took part in the forum. They were able to take away valuable insights and practical tips from the presentations and the discussion. And, of course, networking was not neglected at the subsequent stand-up lunch.
