Gebrüder Weiss, an international transport and logistics company, and the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) commemorated three decades of fruitful collaboration with a special event held at the Vienna Central Station. The occasion was marked by Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, and Christoph Grasl, a member of the management board of RCG, in the presence of esteemed guests. The highlight of the celebration was the ceremonial christening and commissioning of the jointly designed Taurus locomotive named “Europa,” set to traverse routes across Central Europe.
A Long Tradition in Rail Freight
Gebrüder Weiss boasts a venerable history in rail freight transportation, spanning over 170 years. Wolfram Senger-Weiss reflected, “Rail transport has been a cornerstone of our business long before trucks became prevalent in freight transport.” The company’s foray into rail freight dates back to 1853, with modest transports between Lindau and Munich. Since then, Gebrüder Weiss has significantly expanded its involvement in rail freight, notably through its subsidiary company, GW Rail Cargo, facilitating rail transports throughout Europe for international firms and moving up to 1.5 million tons of goods annually.
Orange Combi Cargo: A Success Story of Partnership
An emblematic achievement of the partnership between Gebrüder Weiss and RCG is the Orange Combi Cargo (OCC), a block train operational for 16 years between Vienna, Wels, Hall i.T., and Bludenz. This initiative provides a stable, environmentally friendly transportation solution within Austria, replacing approximately 60 truck trips per day and preventing around 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Christoph Grasl highlighted the OCC as a testament to their collaboration’s success, significantly contributing to environmental sustainability.
Working Together for Climate-Friendly Freight Transport
Transit traffic, particularly between western ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg and the Adriatic ports, comprises a significant portion of rail transport. Stable networks and partnerships, like that between Gebrüder Weiss and RCG, play a pivotal role in transitioning transports to rail, fostering climate-friendly freight transport practices.
The celebration of three decades of collaboration between Gebrüder Weiss and Rail Cargo Group underscores their steadfast commitment to sustainable logistics solutions and lays the groundwork for continued innovation in the industry.