#5 The missing link: How Vegatrans R2L solution connecting 4 million trailers to rail

About Franz Blum Franz, the founder of the logistics company Vegatrans, commenced his journey during his law studies in Salzburg and Vienna by delivering commercial vehicles from Europe to Turkey and the Middle East. What initially began as a student job soon transformed into an enduring passion for logistics. At the end of his studies, he, together with four partners, established Vegatrans. From the outset, Franz emphasized eco-friendly transportation and initiated the integration of rail services into the supply chain. Concurrently, alongside his business pursuits, he also established the largest public observatory in Europe, with the vision that looking out to space makes us understand better that Earth is the paradise in the universe and needs to be treated well to sustain. Today, Franz resides with his family in Salzburg, Austria. About Vegatrans & R2L Vegatrans distributes approximately 150,000 commercial vehicles manufactured by companies like MAN, Iveco, Mercedes, and Volvo. The Vegatrans team covers over 50 million kilometers annually, delivering these units to customers across Europe and Asia. The company's headquarters are situated in Salzburg. Additionally, Vegatrans operates 11 international subsidiaries. A primary emphasis for the company lies in delivering high-quality and environmentally friendly logistics services. Notably, Vegatrans has initiated the integration of rail transport into its supply chain. To enhance green rail transport, Vegatrans collaborated with their partner to develop the roadrail connector (R2L). This innovation enables the seamless integration of 95% of the semi-trailer fleet into the rail ecosystem. www.vegatrans.com www.r2l.com My Key Takeaways Approximately 4,000,000 semi-trailers operate on European roads, with less than 5% designed for rail transport. The absence of a substantial secondary market has hindered significant investments in crane-compatible trailers. As shippers are the primary decision-makers, informing them about the positive ecological impact of rail and persuading them initially is crucial. CO2-neutral transport is a reality today. Vegatrans developed the RoadRail-Link (r2L) as a platform to lift non-cranable trailers as well as trucks and buses using standard terminal equipment. R2L enables the transportation of 95% of all semi-trailers by rail, opening an enormous new potential volume for rail. A significant reduction in empty rail trips could be achieved due to market size and extensive geographical coverage. To attract trailer transports, rail must improve flexibility, capacity and integrate IT systems. Each shifted trailer contributes to CO2 reduction efforts. Burning a liter of diesel emits 3 kg of CO2 emissions. Rail transportation offers up to 4-5 times higher energy efficiency compared to road transport. A 20% modal shift from road to rail would double rail freight volume in Europe. Vegatrans successfully persuaded road vehicle manufacturers to integrate rail into their supply chain and achieved an average train utilization rate of over 85%. Vegatrans has already achieved a modal split of 40% for rail transport Franz`s Vision: Trailers traveling from Marrakech to Shanghai by rail in a CO2-neutral manner. www.railup.club [email protected]