That was our year together, 2019.

52 million train kilometres, 512,000 trains. Every minute of the day, we’re on the move between Europe and Asia on behalf of our customers - 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. 2019 was a fast-paced and challenging year. Let’s take a look back:

Innovations

SmartCargo mid-term review. Nearly 5,000 RCG freight wagons are already equipped with SmartCargo devices and provide us with important data on shock detection and mileage in addition to GPS data. What's more, customers have been able to track the status of their shipments online since October.

TransANT has a lot to celebrate. The first set out of a total order of 30 double units has been handed over to Logistik Service GmbH (LogServ). Our raw materials customer, Bernegger GmbH, is carrying out the first test runs. This innovation has been showered with awards, having won the German Brand Award and the State Prize for Mobility in the category "Increasing Added Value. Opening up markets".

Retrofitting freight wagons with silent brakes is also in full swing and a total of 7,279 RCG freight wagons will be running with quiet brake pads by the end of 2020.

International

The ÖBB and the Port of Trieste signed a declaration of intent to strengthen rail freight transport in March. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in April between RCG and the Croatian port operator Luka Rijeka with the aim of intensifying cooperation and strengthening hinterland transport to and from Croatia. RCG, Port of Baku and Cabooter Logistik Hub Venlo have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint expansion of the Transcaspian Silk Road.

Products & Services

A new block train for transporting wood from Trento to Wörgl was installed in April in collaboration with a customer from Tyrol. A direct connection to the Scandinavian region has been up and running since April thanks to our new TransFER Vienna-Scandinavia. Work officially began on the European infrastructure project "Pfons-Brenner" construction site of the Brenner base tunnel in July, with its shunting yard designed specifically for RCG. In September, we launched the new intermodal connection TransFER Vienna-Melzo (Northern Italy). With the new TransFER Wels-Vienna-Budapest, we are connecting the most important intermodal hubs in Europe.

Sustainability

We are investing all our sustainable energy in the Rail Freight Forward initiative, with the aim of increasing the share of rail freight transport in Europe to 30% by 2030. We sent our climate ambassador Noah's Train on a journey across Europe in 2018, and it also attracted a lot of attention at the World Climate Conference (COP25) in Madrid in December 2019. And now you can also follow live how much CO2 rail freight transport saves every single second.

RCG Inside

In October, our RCG apprentices were awarded the "Competent Digital Family ("Familien Digital Kompetent") seal of approval by the Federal Ministry for Women, Families and Youth.

We are already looking forward to at least as many joint projects and shared successes in the coming year. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmans and Happy New Year!