Membership
Since 1912 we’ve devoted ourselves to the rail freight system.
We know what we’re talking about – and we know what we’re doing. A lot has changed since our foundation. But our goals have remained the same: we’re still committed to free-market mechanisms and a powerful Swiss rail freight system.
We are an association representing the interests of around 300 companies from the entire value chain of the shipping industry and logistics. They transport goods by any combination of rail, road, ship and air.
Every year their work entails considerable investment in rail spurs, terminals, transshipment facilities, trucks, freight cars, and traction units. Our association’s work and transport policy help create the optimum economic environment for this investment and keep the administrative work and expense to a minimum. We see ourselves as working for dialog and equality rather than against the state railways of Europe.
Benefits
As a VAP member you benefit from valuable advantages in the world of freight transport. You can profit from our pan-European network, get access to in-depth information and we also arrange the best advice for various specialist topics.
CONSULTING
We have in-depth and comprehensive know-how in freight transport, thanks to many years of experience and a broad network. We advise and support you in the following areas:
- Legal matters
- Realisation of construction projects (client representation and quality assurance)
- Long-term maintenance and financial planning
- Auditing of your facilities by the BAV
- Implementation of subsidy procedures
- Preparation of operating regulations
- Implementation of technical innovations
- Optimisation of efficiency in production processes
- Strategic advice
Would you like support? Then get in touch with us.
AUXILIARY MEANS
We provide you with auxiliary means for direct download.
- Sample operating regulations
- Overview of the relevant laws
- Online database with the BAV for the management of your sidings
INFORMATION
With the latest information on the state of transport policy, technical innovations and national and international industry news, we keep you up to date and fit for market competition.
- Trade events
- Trade blog
- Media releases
- Position papers
- VAP Newsletter (electronic)
- Network: Establishing the right contacts nationally and internationally
- Railpedia (comming soon)
REPRESENTATION OF INTERESTS
We represent your interests
- in transport and infrastructure policy
- Possibility to participate in the wagonload transport interest group (IG WLV)
Are you interested in IG WLV? Then talk to us about it. - To achieve fair market conditions
- To integrate rail freight transport into multimodal supply chains
Testimonial
«The VAP is an extremely useful platform for the shipping industry. The challenges of the extremely complex rail freight system can only be mastered as a whole unit, bundled in an association.»
«The VAP has drawn up the joint use contracts for the city of Schaffhausen and a complex cost-sharing arrangement for the settlement of accounts for all subsequent connection providers. The contracts and the cost sharing were successfully concluded. We were grateful to have a professional with enormous expertise at our side for this project.»
«VAP conducted the negotiations for the new connection contract and the renovation of the connection tracks for Vetropack. In order to do this, it carried out an operational analysis beforehand to prove that Vetropack had been allocated too many tracks. The connection contract and the renewal could therefore be carried out with considerable savings. VAP’s expertise and negotiating skills led to a very interesting solution for us. I recommend VAP for such services to all members.»
Become a member
By becoming a member, you support the future of the rail freight system and thus a safe way to supply the entire population. In the long term, the traffic axes are relieved and the climate is protected. As a player in freight transport, you also benefit in the short term from our services, with which we can provide you with targeted support thanks to our comprehensive know-how.
Membership is open to all persons, companies and corporations who own and/or use railway sidings, terminals and/or private freight wagons, transhipment containers and traction units. All persons, companies and corporations who wish to support the purpose and activities of the Association and who cannot become full members may become friendly members. Friendly members have no voting rights.
Are you interested in becoming a member of the VAP?
We kindly ask you to send the completed and signed membership application by post to:
VAP General Secretariat, Dr. Frank Furrer, Ringlikerstrasse 70, 8142 Uitikon (Zurich)