June 2007

Transport logistic Fair for ERS was a great success Transport logistic 2007 reflects booming business in the sector – new records Total 47,000 trade visitors: + 18 percent | 1,580 exhibitors: + 19 percent | 86,000 square metres of space: + 15 percent Globalisation and booming business in the sector have been reflected in full at transport logistic 2007. This 11th International Trade Fair for Logistics, Telematics and Transport, which took place between 12 and 15 June 2007, attracted 47,000 trade visitors from 113 countries. This is a rise of 18 percent over the last transport logistic trade fair. "Transport logistic has recorded impressive growth in the numbers of exhibitors and visitors, and in exhibition space. It addressed all the trend themes – across international borders – that are affecting the sector," said Eugen Egetenmeir, a Member of the Management Board of Messe München. Michael Kubenz, President of the Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband (DSLV) and Chairman of the Advisory Board of transport logistic, commented: "Logistics is in the overtaking lane worldwide. Never before has transport logistic had so many visitors, never before has this event been so international in scope." This was also confirmed by the exhibitors side: "transport logistic has visibly achieved its goal of being the world's leading trade fair for the sector," confirmed Detthold Aden, President of the BLG Logistics Group. After Germany, the top ten countries of origin among the visitors were (in number order): Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, France, Belgium, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Slovenia. There was a noticeable rise in interest from the countries of east and southeastern Europe, and from the Middle East. June 2007 ERS at Transport Logistic fair in Munich Transport Logistic presents the entire world of transport at a glance. Logistics and telematics, inhouse transport and material flows as well as freight transport. With its special overall concept, transport logistics illustrates the extensive networking and interactions between these fields. At the same time, it gives the qualified public the chance of direct discussions with the exhibitors. The aim of the fair is to present practical experiences of the very complex sector of transportation, on road and rail, on water and in the air. European Rail Shuttle invites you to join us at our stand, Hall B6, stand 305/ 404. February 2007 New appointment The Supervisory Board of European Rail Shuttle appointed Alan J. Gibson, formerly Director Area Operations with Maersk Line, as Managing Director of ERS effective 1 February 2007. Alan Gibson has held various senior positions in finance, strategic planning, infrastructure development and operations in Sea-Land Service, APM Terminals and Maersk Line since joining Sea-Land in 1974. Frans Zoetmulder, former ERS MD, transferred to the position of Chief Commercial Officer on 1 February. February 2007 ERS also active on the Belgian tracks On 8th February 2007 ERS Railways, received the security certificate from the Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel which makes it possible to run its own trains on the Belgian rail network. The process for the application was handled very rapidly. "After only four months we already obtained the safety certificate". After Rotterdam, Bremerhafen and Hamburg, Zeebrugge will be the fourth largest sea port which will be connected to the ERS network. ERS will start its services in the cause of 2007. First trains will drive from Zeebrugge to Melnik, near Prague. August 2006 ERS sponsors Railz Miniworld. This year, Marc van Buren and his team are building the first indoor miniature model world in the Netherlands. 800 m2 of miniature landscape with all infrastructures such as ports, factories, polders, houses, offices, roads, highways, waterways and of course also railways, will be built over the next 6 years. This new interactive world will also contain a cinema, a workshop for miniatures and a restaurant. A unique place to visit, to learn more of the Dutch landscape and what the Dutch did with their country. Also ERS will be represented in this world. Apart of having its newest offices in the Railz port area, ERS will also drive its containers trains in this new mini world. As per January 2007, two container trains of ERS will drive to and from the port area, to ensure that containers are delivered on time. No job too big, nor too small for ERS! April 2006 New rail connection European Rail Shuttle, ERS, the Pan European rail shuttle operator, will expand its European rail shuttle network by introducing as from May 3 2006, a 2 times a week shuttle train from Rotterdam DFDS Tor Line Terminal to Milan (Melzo). The trains will leave Rotterdam on Wednesday with an arrival at Melzo on Friday morning. The Saturday departure will arrive at the Milan Melzo terminal on Monday afternoon. The trains will leave Melzo on Saterday and Thursday with arrival Monday morning respectively Friday evening. In Rotterdam the shuttle trains will call at DFDS Tor Line terminal, at RSC (Rail Service Centre) Waalhaven, at ECT Home Terminal and will provide as well connections to the Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals North and South and Hanno Uniport pier 5,6 and 7. January 2006 ERS Rotterdam - Athus - and ERS Rotterdam - Warsaw shuttle traffic also driven by ERS Railways As from time schedule change of 12th December 2005, ERS Railways, in cooperation with B-Cargo, took over the traction of the ERS shuttle trains between Rotterdam and Athus. ERS Railways provides the traction and shunting in the port of Rotterdam. At Rotterdam Kijfhoek B-cargo takes over the trains and forwards them to Athus. The traffic initially has been started with four roundtrips per week. ERS Railways expect to be capable to increase the quality of the of the product without any further delay. As per 1st of January 2006 a new dimension was added to the growth of ERS Railways: the traction of the ERS shuttle trains between Rotterdam and Warsaw will also be operated by ERS Railways. The service will start up with three roundtrips per week. In the Netherlands and in Germany the trains will be hauled by ERS Railways with Class 66 locomotives. In Frankfurt am Oder. PKP Cargo will take care of the train service on the Polish section. The quality of the ERS shuttle product has been below set quality levels for a long time. As no improvements were made by the former operator, it was decided to swap the service to ERS Railways. We are confident that the service performance will improve shortly, which will also be to the benefit of our customers. October 2005 Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Ivo Opstelten, visits the Melnik Terminal On Saturday 9 October 2005, the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Ivo Opstelten, visited the city of Prague. This was the opportunity for him to have a look at the ERS rail terminal in Melnik. Together with the ambassador of the Netherlands, Mrs. Ida van Veldhuizen-Rothenbücher, the mayor visited the terminal where they received an extensive explanation of the activities performed on the Melnik site. The mayor was pleased to learn, that Rotterdam is the most important destination for the terminal. Cargo from all over the world is transshipped via Rotterdam to Melnik, from where it will find its final destination. Melnik is clearly the hub for Czech as well as for transshipment cargo to amongst others Hungary, the Slovak Republic and Rumania. Since August 1st ERS Railways and CD operate a daily shuttle service between Rotterdam and Melnik for European Rail Shuttle. Since the start in August, this service has expanded to 9 departures per week. In Melnik ERS ships to following destinations: Rotterdam, Bremerhafen, Hamburg, Bratislava and Budapest September 2005 ERS, ACTS and Rail4Chem design a new sticker Report Dwarsliggers of vrije baan, well received by the Minister........ ERS, ACTS and Rail4Chem are committed to drive on the Betuweroute. After fruitful talks with minister of transport Mrs. C. Peijs on Saturday 17 September, the three companies decided, as a token of good will to the minister, to design a new sticker, in line with the current safety campaign of Minister, "I love the Betuweroute". We believe that the Betuweroute is essential for the future of the rail industry in the Netherlands. When all barriers on the Betuweroute will be taken away, we will "love" to drive on this new rail highway.     September 2005 Dwarsliggers of vrije baan? The three private railway companies ACTS, Rail4Chem and ERS Railways have asked Beaufort Business Partners, to investigate and to report the problems the rail industry faces with the introduction/investments of the new safety systems for the Betuweroute and the introduction of the new Dutch rail tax. Please click here to read the report in Dutch. Please click here for the English version.     September 2005 ERS runs first train from DFDS Tor Line terminal Maasvlakte After two years of preparation, DFDS Tor Line Terminal received on September 2 2005 its first container train. ERS Railways, on behalf of European Rail Shuttle, pulled in 10 x 6 axle container wagons with one of their Class 66 locomotives. Apart of Lys Line units, who has its home base on the terminal, also some UTT units were loaded for transport to RSC Waalhaven. The first train at DFDS left fully loaded! Discussions with the terminal for a daily service are ongoing. August 2005 ERS Railways taking over Rotterdam - Melnik traffic As from the 1st of August ERS Railways took over the traction of the ERS shuttle trains between Rotterdam and Melnik. The service is performed in a close cooperation with CD Cargo, the Czech national cargo railway company, who is taking care of the Czech part of the trip. The number of roundtrips has been increased from 6 to 7 per week. For this new traffic, ERS Railways leased three new class 66 locomotives. By driving the trains on this relation, ERS Railways hopes to improve the quality of the product to the benefit of our customers. Click on the pictures to enlarge. The first train being loaded at the MIT Terminal in Melnik Mrs Milada Smejkalova of the Czech Ministry of Transport, Mr Rodan Senekl of CD and Frans Zoetmulder of ERS during the launching ceremony in Melnik. The inauguration of the first train by Mr Josef Matejovsky of CD Cargo and Stig Kyster-Hansen of ERS Railways The first departure from Melnik The first departure from Rotterdam April 2005 Press Report New service European Rail Shuttle to Turkey. At the end of April European Rail Shuttle (ERS) starts her new service in Turkey. The train will depart Friday evening from RSC Waalhaven Rotterdam with a stop at the DIT Container Terminal in Duisburg. At this place the cargo from the Ruhr area for Turkey can be recharged. The train will arrive in Istanbul Halkali on Wednesday morning. The units will be available at the terminal from 07.00 am. The train will leave from Halkali/Istanbul on Saturday evening and will arrive in Duisburg on Wednesday morning. Units for Rotterdam are available on Wednesday afternoon. With a transit time for 5 days this shuttle is the fastest one in the market. Seen the positive reactions from the market, the expectations for the new product are highly tensed. The combination of competitive rail tariffs and a very fast transit time are a part of this. In the meantime more operators promised to book a fixed number of places at the trains. The expectation is that the frequency of 1 departure per week will be raised to 3 trains per week within 3 months. With over 250 shuttles per week ERS is connecting the Rotterdam and German ports with over 20 inland destinations in the Benelux, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. ERS also offers shuttles between Hungary (Budapest) and Slovenia (Koper), between Greece (Thessaloniki) and Bulgaria (Sofia) and between Germany (Hamburg) and Denmark (Taulov). As from 2003 ERS has her own rail company, known as ERS Railways. ERS Railways takes care of the shuttle connection from Rotterdam to and from German and Italian terminals. In the mean time ERS Railways has 14 locomotives and over more than 600 wagons. ERS of which the head office is situated in Rotterdam, also has offices in Hamburg, Melnik, Budapest and Frankfurt. March 2005 Transport Logistic 2005 Munich from 31 May till 3 June 2005 The Transport & Logistic 2005 Fair will be held in Munich from 31 May to 3 June 2005. European Rail Shuttle is very pleased to invite you at our fair stand nr. 307/ 406 – Hall B 6 in Munich. Why visit this fair? Transport Logistic presents the entire world of transport at a glance: logistics and telematics, in-house transport and materials flow, freight and passenger transport. With its specialized overall concept, transport logistic illustrates the extensive networking and interactions between these four fields. At the same time, it gives its exhibitors the chance of direct discussions with a highly qualified specialist public. More participants Transport Logistic has seen continuous growth in the number of visitors and exhibitors. More internationality More and more international exhibitors and visitors participate in the trade fair. More communication Transport Logistic 2005 will be promoted around the world with effective technical ads, mailings, media-cooperation agreements and the Internet. For any further information, please visit http://www.transportlogistic.de We hope to see you in Munich! February 2005 Betuweroute straks klaar, maar treinen wellicht niet. Bron: De Telegraaf 8.2.2005 door THEO JONGEDIJK ROTTERDAM, dinsdag De Belangenvereniging Rail Goederenvervoerders (BRG) kijkt met spanning uit naar de ingebruikname van de Betuweroute begin 2007, maar vreest een domper op de feestvreugde als de locomotieven dan nog altijd niet zijn omgebouwd naar de nieuwe veiligheidsmaatstaf ETCS, wat staat voor European Train Control System. „Het is níét vijf, maar twee voor twaalf”, waarschuwen Frits van Riet, voorzitter van de BRG en Frans Zoetmulder, algemeen directeur van ERS Railways, na Railion Nederland de grootste goederenvervoerder over het spoor. „Als er binnen twee maanden geen knopen worden doorgehakt, mag het Nederlandse deel van de Betuweroute over bijna twee jaar dan wel klaar zijn, maar dan kunnen er helaas geen locomotieven over rijden.” Zoals bij zo veel heikele zaken draait het ook hier om het geld. Het railduo heeft de materie snel uitgelegd: „Langs het traditionele spoor staat om de 800 à 1200 meter een seinpaal. De machinist rijdt feitelijk van paal tot paal, zijn leidraad voor de veiligheid op het spoor. Bij de Betuweroute heeft de minister van Verkeer en Waterstaat besloten gebruik te gaan maken van het nieuwe ETCSveiligheidssysteem, dat over een aantal jaren de Europese norm zal gaan worden. ETCS werkt met geavanceerde elektronica in de locomotief, die in de plaats komt van de palen langs het spoor. Die verandering betekende bij de aanleg van de Betuweroute een duidelijke kostenbesparing voor de overheid, maar legt de rekening ondertussen wel bij de goederenvervoerders die hun rijdend materieel moeten aanpassen.” Volgens een extern onderzoeksbureau gaat het theoretisch om 176 locomotieven die naar ETCS-norm moeten worden omgebouwd. Volgens Van Riet en Zoetmulder ligt het feitelijke aantal wat lager, zij vermoeden tussen de 60 en 100 exemplaren, hetgeen echter niet wegneemt dat het om een zeer omvangrijke operatie gaat. Er zullen tientallen miljoenen euro’s aan directe kosten mee gemoeid zijn, terwijl de railgoederenvervoerders natuurlijk ook indirect worden getroffen doordat ze hun locomotieven tijdens de ombouwperiode niet exploitabel kunnen maken. Begrip voor minister „We hebben er begrip voor dat de minister heeft gekozen voor ETCS, ook al zijn we daar niet happy mee. Er doet zich met de komst van de Betuweroute immers een unieke kans voor om een nieuw systeem te introduceren en veiligheid op het spoor staat bij eenieder die ermee te maken heeft immers hoog in het vaandel. Het kan echter niet zo zijn dat een beperkt aantal bedrijven letterlijk het kind van de rekening wordt.” De sector heeft medio vorig jaar de krachten gebundeld, nadat er bij de kleinere spelers in de markt wrevel was ontstaan over het feit dat Railion Nederland (voortgekomen uit Deutsche Bahn en onderdeel van het Duitse Stinnes, red.) als grootste partij telkenmale voor overheid en pers de enige gesprekspartner bleek te zijn. „Toen de behoefte aan bundeling ontstond, is er diepgaand nagedacht over de vraag: met of zonder Railion? Het is mét geworden en daardoor kunnen we niet tegen elkaar worden uitgespeeld.” Behalve Railion- Nederland, ERS Railways, Rail4Chem, ACTS en Connex hebben zich ook de drie railaannemers in ons land bij de club aangesloten. DLC, een Belgische onderneming, is de enige speler die nog ontbreekt, maar zal zich er naar verwachting ook bij voegen. Zoetmulder van ERS Railways, een bedrijf dat in 1994 is voortgekomen uit de ontevredenheid met de gang van zaken op het spoor van de destijds nog zelfstandige rederijen Nedlloyd, Maersk, P&O en Sealand, heeft naast de geuite wens van financiële tegemoetkoming nog een eis eer hij zijn twaalf locomotieven voor ETCS-ombouw beschikbaar stelt: „Wij willen niet dat dit veiligheidssysteem nog verder wordt aangepast. Anders dreigt het levensgrote gevaar dat we over een aantal jaren nog eens op kosten worden gejaagd vanwege allerlei noodzakelijke aanpassingen. Laten we duidelijk zijn: de huidige ETCS-versie moet de Europese standaard worden. Anders is het over en uit.” Een andere zorg van de ondernemers is de aanpak van de Betuweroute aan Duitse kant. „Zoals de vlag er vandaag voor staat, zullen zij níét op 1 januari 2007 – de beoogde datum van ingebruikname – klaar zijn”, zegt het duo. „Duitsland heeft blijkbaar andere prioriteiten, maar Nederland verhoogt wel de druk.” Volgens Van Riet en Zoetmulder is er in dit traject overigens nog wel wat speling: „De Betuweroute zal niet direct op vol volume gaan. Daar gaat een paar jaar overheen. Maar in die tijd moet er wel wat aan Duitse kant gebeuren, willen we straks geen filevorming krijgen.” Minister Karla Peijs (Verkeer) heeft het verzoek van de vervoerders in behandeling. „Ze realiseert zich het tijdsprobleem voor de inbouw van het apparatuur”, zegt haar woordvoerder. Binnen twee maanden reageert ze. January 2005 ERS RAILWAYS PASSES THE 1 BILLION TON KILOMETERS MARK IN 2004 ERS Railways BV produced in 2004 1,12 billion ton kilometers. Ton kilometers is the product of the multiplication of the tonnage transported times the mileage driven; a statistic used by the central bureau of statistics. ERS Railways passed the magical 1 billion ton kilometers on 6 December 2004. This new record number was produced with its fleet of 12 locomotives and a dedicated container wagon fleet of 340 wagons. The growth was generated out of the Italy service. ERS Railways now drives all European Rail Shuttle trains from Rotterdam to Duisburg, Neuss, Germersheim and Mainz, as well as the Italian service, which was started in January 2004. The service is produced by ERS Railways up to Basle, where SBB takes over the trains, for final delivery to Melzo and Padova. The 1,120,000,000 ton kilometers were produced for 65% in Germany and 35% in Holland. September 2004 10th anniversary ERS party 17th of September 2004 at Stoomdepot Rotterdam May 2004 CHANGES IN CUSTOMS PROCEDURES FOR THE NEW EU MEMBERS As the Czech Republic and Poland will become EU members, the customs procedures for our shuttle trains will change. Shuttles Prague – Rotterdam and Warsaw – Rotterdam (traffic direction: east-west) Actual situation (up to 30.04.2004 – Poland and the Czech Republic are still not an EU member). All the goods have to be declared for transport (transit declaration); This situation is transparent and identical for the complete shuttle, as all goods have to be declared for transport; The CIM consignment note is used as transit the document (simplified procedure); On departure and at arrival the Railways have to count with de lay for customs inspections regarding the correctness and completeness of the documents. Situation per 01.05.2004 – Poland and the Czech Republic are EU members. There will be 3 different good statuses. Goods free of customs declarations - i.e. internal EU. Example: tyres produced in Poland, for the Dutch retail market; Goods declared for export (to be accompanied by an export declaration documents). Example: machinery produced in Poland, to be forwarded to the USA. Goods with a transit obligation (to be accompanied by transit documents). Example: steel products from Russia, to be forwarded to South Africa, or to a European country where it will be declared for import after transport. SPECIAL REMARKS; In order to avoid extra workflow, due to more customs clearance time, or miscalculations or wrong declarations, extra checks concerning the different customs declaration codes of goods at departure and arrival are essential. This will be practice as long as the CIM consignment note will be used as a transit document. The clearance at departure and at arrival will have to be streamlined and will have to be made more transparent by using separate T-document for the goods under customs control (variant 3). This used to be handled with the CIM consignment. This will apply as per 01.05.2004. The status of the goods has to be indicated on the wagon/container list , separately per container. This is not new; this is already the way we send products on the axle West - East. All veterinary and phyto-sanitary checks on goods will be replaced to the departing or arrival terminals. There will be no more checks at the border crossings. Current checks will be stopped after 30-04-2004 18.00 hours. Shuttles Rotterdam-Prague and Rotterdam-Warsaw (direction west-east) Actual situation (up to 30.04.2004 – as long as Poland and the Czech Republic are still not an EU member) All containers leaving Rotterdam should be accompanied by a T document as transport is from an EU country to a non EU country. CIM freight letter will not have a custom status. T1 documents are sufficient (customs status). CIM freight letter is only an administration transport document.   Situation per 01.05.2004 – Poland and the Czech Republic are EU members. Goods from OUTSIDE the EU can be accompanied by : T1/T2. Customs-clearance proof, so called “wegvoering” Goods from within the EU can be accompanied by : T2. Customs-clearance proof, so called “wegvoering” Invoice / CMR , the so called “FREE GOODS” For these transports a CIM freight letter will be issued (no customs status) with separate “nachweisung” based on status of goods. Shuttles Prague – Hamburg/Bremerhaven Actual situation (up to 30.04.2004 – as long as the Czech Republic is not EU member). All the goods have to be declared (transit declaration); This situation is transparent and identical for the complete shuttle, because all the goods have to be declared for transport; The CIM consignment note is used as transit document (simplified procedure); on departure and arrival the railways have to count with declaration time, and controls concerning the correctness and completeness of the documents Situation per 01.05.2004 – Czech Republic is EU member The status of the goods has to be indicated in the wagon/container list per container separately. It is transparent because goods declared for export have already to be companied with separate export declaration documents. And because it is the same way of settlement which is already several years common for these shuttles in the traffic direction. Example; The load list of the train should content following detailed descriptions: Container number Destination Hamburg (like Bukai,TCT,Eurogate)/Bremerhaven Seal number T document (specified per document T1,T5,T2l,BVD) Colli Gross weight Signature ERS Melnik/Train driver Signature ERS/Railion for Hamburg and Railion/Ipsen for Bremerhaven For 7 and 8 a clear handover procedure should be in place which we are working on at the moment. This will be practised per 01.05.2004. The settlement on departure and arrival will be streamlined and made more transparent by using separate T-documents (to arrange and to be settled by the customers before rail transport) for the goods under customs supervision instead of using the CIM consignment note as transit document. Example; T1 document, T5 Document, T2L Document, BVD Document. Shuttles Hamburg/Bremerhaven-Prague Actual situation (up to 30.04.2004 – as long as the Czech Republic is not EU member) The CIM consignment note is used as transit document (simplified procedure) Situation per 01.05.2004 – Czech Republic is EU member The CIM consignment note is used as transit document (simplified procedure). Procedure remains as it is. The documentation flow can and will be controlled by both ERS Hamburg and Melnik. The principle of VAT charges before May 1st 2004 is based on fact that freight cost to and from non-EC country were exempt of VAT payment. As from 1st of May Intra Community supply will be subject to Dutch VAT, also for the new EU members. This means that goods with an EC origin, or goods which are customs cleared in the EC (released for free circulation), which will be transported from one member state to another member state, within EC, and whereby the freight payer is registered in the Netherlands, will be charged with Dutch VAT . In case the freight payer is registered in another country within the EC, VAT may be reversed, which means that Dutch VAT will not applicable to those freight payers who have a VAT registration in their own country. We hope to have informed you sufficiently and we will keep you updated on all issues related to the coming EU changes in respect to rail transport to and from. Please make sure that all info will be resend to all parties involved. April 2004 OPENING NEW OFFICE IN GERMANY                                                             To support the activities of ERS Railways B.V., on April 1st 2004 a second operations office was opened in Frankfurt. The German company will act under the name of ERS Railways GmbH.   The following staff will be engaged to ensure a smooth operation of the ERS Railways products in Germany , Switzerland and Italy :   Matthias Beth as Eisenbahnbetriebsleiter, he will be responsible for the production in Germany. He will also be responsible for the trains operated between Rotterdam – Germersheim / Mainz / Neuss / Duisburg.   Pernille Isaksson as Operations Manager, she will be responsible for the production in Switzerland and Italy with our partners SBB Cargo and FN Cargo. She will have an overall responsibility for the trains operated between Rotterdam – Melzo / Padova.   Oliver Maksymski and Ina Gaida as Operators . Oliver and Ina will ensure proper communications with all participating in the rail process. The office is open Monday to Friday from 6.00 to 21.30. For more info rmation please contact:   ERS Railways GmbH Baseler Strasse 35-37 D-60329 Frankfurt/Main Tel: +49 69 42 72 963 63 Fax: +49 69 42 72 963 69 www.ersrail.com February 2004 ERS 10 th ANNIVERSARY On Wednesday 18th February it is 10 years ago that ERS started its activities as a European rail operator. ERS introduced the shuttle train concept to various destinations. Created by the shipping lines, ERS developed during these 10 years into a fully fletched rail operator, and the volumes are there to prove it. Services were expanded, and today ERS operates over 280 shuttles per week, from Rotterdam and the German ports to destinations in Belgium , Italy , Germany , Czech Republic , Slovakia , Hungary , Romania , Bulgaria , Poland , Denmark and Greece . Expansion of the office network: In order to ensure better communication with its customers, ERS opened a rep. office in Hamburg in 2002. The decision to start, together with Maersk Sealand, a rail terminal near Prague in 2003, was the reason why ERS sro in Melnik was founded. ERS sro has just closed its first successful year of operations. In 2003 also an operational support office was opened in Budapest , as experience showed us, that it is vital to have one's own staff in place at crucial locations. Own Traction: Although the introduction of the shuttle train concept was a major step forward, quality and pricing on certain stretches supplied by the railways, deteriorated again over the years and was eventually no longer acceptable to ERS. In 2000, ERS founded together with two partners, Eurogate Intermodal and TX Logistik, a new railway company in Germany . This company was baptized BoxXpress.de and specializes in inland rail transport within Germany . The system started in 2000 and has grown rapidly over the last 3 years. Now BoxXpress daily connects Hamburg and Bremerhafen with Stuttgart , Nurnberg , Augsburg and Munchen. The network can carry over 900 TEU per day, which is the largest container volume carried by a railway company in Germany .   Success calls for more Also in Holland ERS was not satisfied with the pricing and service level offered by the railways. Therefore ERS decided to start up its own railway company in Holland as well. ERS Railways was founded early 2002. Against all odds, in less than half a year time, ERS was capable to get all licenses, safety certificates, slots, locomotives, wagons, drivers and support staff in the office in place and started end September 2002 with its first self operated daily shuttle service from Rotterdam to Germersheim. In January 2003 ERS Railways expanded its services with 2 extra daily shuttles to Mainz and to Neuss/Duisburg. As per January 2004, ERS Railways produces, jointly with SBB, 34 shuttle trains per week between Rotterdam and Melzo and Padova in Italy . ERS drives from Rotterdam to Basle and in Basle SBB takes over and makes the connection to Italy . December 2003 ERS WINS SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST RAILION AND TRENITALIA   As over the last few weeks the ERS service to and from Italy was heavily disrupted by the non-performance of the Railways, ERS started summary proceedings against Railion and Trenitalia on 19 December 2003 . On Monday 22 December 2003 the President of the Court in Rotterdam agreed with ERS' claim; the execution of the transport contracts. Railion was sentenced by the court and will have to force the other railways to execute the transport agreements. Failing to supply the transport service will result in a  penalty of Eur 50.000 per day. December 2003 Extra locomotives ERS Railways ordered recently 7 extra locomotives. 5 locomotives of GM, class 66 for the long haul and 2 Vosloh 1206 locomotives for shunting activities in the Rotterdam Port. On the photo the first of the 2 Vosloh's, before they will be branded in the ERS Railways colours.   October 2003 New shuttle train connection After 15 years of various studies by the Bulgarian government, the railways and various other parties, ERS is proud to announce that it started on the 2nd September 2003 the first container train service between Sofia and Thessaloniki. The train is planned to drive two round trips per week between the Bulgarian capital and the seaport Thessaloniki. For more information please contact our sales department: info@ersrail.com October 2003 ERS Railways joins forces with Swiss SBB Cargo ERS Railways and SBB Cargo have signed a co-operation agreement. As per January 1 2004 ERS will purchase traction from SBB Cargo for the Swiss and Italian stretch . Main reason for this co-operation is to improve the quality of the shuttle service to and from Northern Italy (Melzo and Padova). Since October 2002 ERS has it's own railway company, ERS Railways, which already delivers traction and wagons for shuttles from Rotterdam to and from Neuss, Duisburg, Germersheim and Mainz, vv. In the co-operation with SBB Cargo, ERS Railways will deliver the wagons and will provide traction to Basel, where SBB Cargo will take over. Railion will continue to provide the traction for the ERS trains to Italy till the end of 2003. Railion will still provide services for ERS to and from Eastern Europe. September 2003 Duisburg shuttle ERS has expanded its Pan European shuttle network with the introduction of a new shuttle service from Rotterdam to Duisburg. This shuttle is operational as from September 8 2003 and serves Duisburg 5 times a week. The train calls in Rotterdam the Delta terminal and RSC Waalhaven. In Duisburg DIT is called. Shuttle departs from Rotterdam from Monday to Friday late PM with an overnight arrival at Duisburg DIT. Departures from Duisburg are early in the morning on Tuesday till Saturday, with an early AM arrival in Rotterdam. At RSC Waalhaven ERS offers several connections to ECT Home, Hanno, Uniport, RST South, RST North and Kramer. For further information please contact our sales department. September 2003 New office in Budapest: As per 1 September 2003 European Rail Shuttle has opened its own office on the Mahart Terminal in Budapest. Mr. Vadasz has been appointed as Operations Manager. The main task of Mr. Vadasz will be to improve and safeguard the quality of the trains. Mr. Vadasz can be reached via email: ers@containercenter.hu May 2003 New website European Rail Shuttle Welcome to the completely new website of European Rail Shuttle. Here you can find information about European Rail Shuttle, it’s services and the possibility to make an online reservation. European Rail Shuttle, your strategic rail-link within in Europe. A fast-moving organisation that is constantly developing in meeting it's customer’s demand. Keep checking our website for changes in the time tables and the developments at European Rail Shuttle. May 2003 ERS at Transport Logistic 2003 Munich Come and visit us from May 20th till 24th at Transport Logistic 2003 Munich! The leading European trade fair for logistics, telematics and transport. Transport Logistic will be focusing this year firmly on the international perspective. Many new international exhibitors will be taking part for the first time in the fair in 2003. Judging by the number of registrations received so far, and the growing proportion of international exhibitors among them, the organisers are forecasting strong interest on the visitor side, both from Germany and abroad. www.transportlogistic.de You'll find us at Hall.Stand B6.308. October 2002 Inauguration ERS Railways BV ERS " An approach from the opportunity angle" Below pictures of this event. The first official departure Rotterdam Germersheim with own ERS Railways locomotive. Mr. Kurt Oberlinger Ministerial Rat Nord Rhein Westfalen giving the green light. Mr. Roelf de Boer Dutch Minister of Transport arrives at the RSC terminal with the Blue Catapult. Mr. Frans Zoetmulder receives the safety certificate from Mr. Pim Vriesendorp from Railned Railsafety. Mr. Paul Ranke Director Railned and Mr. Frans Zoetmulder signing the first International entry agreement. Blue Catapult getting her colours. << Back to News