In Japan, huge potential for rail transports

Over the years, InterRail and subsidiaries have handled numerous transports connecting Japan and Europe; in line with the growing demand for efficient rail freight solutions, and to be closer to the market, InterRail has now established its own delegation in Japan.

An interview with Thomas Möller, who heads the InterRail Japan office.

Q: Mr. Möller, could you briefly share your professional background and how it has prepared you for your role at InterRail?
A: More than 35 years of experience in the Logistic industry, of which spent 15 years in Japan. I have a deep understanding of the local culture and good access to Japanese freight forwarders as well as the different commercial industries.

Q: From your perspective, what is the business potential for InterRail in Japan?
A: In my eyes, the business potential is huge. However, it solely depends on our abilities to adopt to the demands of the market(s) which are not different from other areas around the globe. We need: competitive pricing, stabile and reasonable transit times, and sufficient empty equipment in Japan, all of which translates to: reliability.

Q: What are the main opportunities and challenges you see for InterRail in this market?
A: Main opportunities: there is limited competition on mostly all trade lanes InterRail is tailoring around the Japanese customers’ needs. We need to establish a reliable partnership with key clients in the different industries over the years to come.  Using local connections to key Japanese customers as a door opener, we can introduce other InterRail companies / offices to their international network.
As to the challenges: We have to develop THAT product which is a MUST for the Japanese customers to turn to InterRail to discuss the current freight market challenges ad our potential to support their volume flows.

Q: What will your main goals and responsibilities be over the next few months?
A: Short term: Conducting market analysis; achieving vendor approval status by the key Japanese industries / clients. Plus the full integration in the operational and commercial pricing teams to develop THAT one needed product mentioned above.
Long term: successfully placing InterRail as specialized service provider on the Japanese market. The goal is to change the company status from Commercial Representation to operational unit.

Q: How do you plan to build and expand relationships with partners and clients in Japan?
A: By using my existing network.

Q: What trends or developments in the logistics and railway sectors should InterRail be aware of in your region?
A: Local freight forwarders are possibly developing similar products as InterRail is offering for the different trade lanes. Shipping lines will try to offer similar services as InterRail to establish a reliable rail service linking Japan via the middle corridor to the CIS and Europe and vice versa, mobilizing their own equipment to places of need. Deep sea carriers will sharpen their vessel fleet and sailing schedules to reduce current transit times via South Africa. Additionally, there are governmental orders in place to use certain trade lane offers which maximize Japanese content.

Q: What excites you most about the future of rail logistics in Japan?
A: The ability to jointly develop, with the InterRail teams, environment friendly logistic products and strategies! I see a possible future approach to Japan Rail (JR Freight / Logistics) to jointly develop a green corridor to export and import goods between Europe and Japan – door to door.

InterRail Opens New Delegation Office in Spain

St. Gallen, 29 October 2024. As of October 1st, we’ve opened a new delegation office in Spain. This expansion is part of our ongoing commitment to extend our geographic presence in key markets across Europe and Asia.

Back in 2014, we launched our first full container train from China to Spain, covering one of the longest routes in China-Europe land transport. With our new office on the ground, we aim to strengthen our presence in Europe and respond even more directly to our customers’ needs.

The new InterRail delegation is led by Manuel J. Alvarez, and we had the chance to ask him a few questions about his role and plans for the region.

1. Could you briefly share your professional background and how it has prepared you for your role at InterRail?
I entered the world of logistics to solve a problem that my import-export business was suffering from. I learned first-hand about the links in the transport of goods and this led me to provide solutions to the rest of the companies that contacted me through the Chambers of Commerce.

With this experience I developed the implementation of Cacesa (air cargo subsidiary of the Iberia Group) at the León airport. As a result, Altius (Davila Group) became interested in me for the commercial development of the Forwarding division in the North West of Spain, interacting with the rest of the group’s offices. In the second phase, I developed the approach to markets such as the Balkans and Central Asia; and this is where I first came into contact with the Group.

And the third phase has been the award of the operation of the freight railway terminal at the Vigo-Guixar station attached to the Port of Vigo.

Although the environment has always been commercial, the common denominator of all the projects has been Business Development by managing teams.

2. From your perspective, what is the business potential for InterRail in Spain?
Our goal is to enter the Madrid >>> Europe (Germany, France, Benelux) flows through our partners and with our own equipment in the Spanish traffic: Madrid >>> Spain (come into the interconnectable network) and Barcelona >>> Seville.

We also want to position ourselves in the market as a reference in Central Asia, taking into account that we have our own structure and also operate in all the East & Westbound railway corridors. Our position in Turkey and India is also very important.

3. What are the main opportunities and challenges you see for InterRail in this market?
In a new project, I would say that the challenge is what will generate the opportunity.
The positioning of our own equipment and mainly the reefer equipment opens up all the opportunities in the field of fruit and frozen products. As a tangible opportunity, I would say that Spain is positioned for InterRail as a bridge between Latin America and Morocco and the entire InterRail structure. Many Spanish companies are established in these markets and InterRail can provide cross-trade solutions.

4. What will your main goals and responsibilities be over the next few months?
Promotion and participation in the strategic development of InterRail not only at the level of customers and suppliers, but also with public administrations, logistics forums, ports,
railway terminals and road transport companies.

5. How do you plan to build and expand relationships with partners and clients in Spain?
InterAct + InterModal = InterRail. We will develop strategic alliances with freight forwarders whose clients require solutions and we will make tailor-made solutions for high-volume clients. We come to contribute our know-how and make our experience available to the Spanish market.
Our definition includes collaboration between truck and train, as it could not be otherwise. And by joining the seafreight we will have the logistics trinomial.
Synergy: “the whole is more important than the sum of its parts”

6. What trends or developments in the logistics and railway sectors should InterRail be aware of in your region?
By positioning our own equipment, we must consider the management of railway terminals and intermodal warehouses, relying on local actors for the first and last mile

The current railway quota is around 4%. There is a commitment piloted through the Mercancias Plan 30, so the objective has been set to achieve a 10% railway quota by 2030. This is the first plan in many decades and both, the public administration and the private sector, are very clear that this is the way forward. Projects such as the Mediterranean Corridor are a must. The Trans-European network to which the Mediterranean Corridor will be linked will cover 3,500 km, which concentrates 54% of the inhabitants of Europe and represents 66% of the GDP of the EU.

Spain’s Economy: Europe’s Growth Engine
Spain leads Europe in economic growth, reaching around 2.3%. Key drivers include robust tourism, strong exports, and investments in digitalization and green energy. Despite challenges like private investment gaps and high public debt, structural reforms and a resilient labor market support continued expansion.
(Sources: Handelsblatt, Esade)

Alternative Transport Solutions via the Middle Corridor

St. Gallen, 23 September 2024. A series of recently successfully completed test transports via the Middle Corridor has confirmed that this route holds great potential for rail freight. It opens up new opportunities for companies seeking alternative transport options.

The route runs through Turkey or via the Black Sea and the Caspian region, allowing access to strategic points in Central Asia and the Far East. This flexibility enhances the corridor’s potential for diverse logistics needs.

Our dedicated team continues to explore the benefits of this corridor to provide our customers with innovative rail transport alternatives!

InterRail Mumbai Quality Certified

St. Gallen / Mumbai, 13 August 2024. Following the footsteps of InterRail Germany, we are excited to announce that our first location in India, InterRail India Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai, has also achieved ISO certification!

With the ISO 9001 (Quality Management) certification, InterRail India reaffirms our commitment to excellence and sustainability in the region. This milestone not only strengthens our position in the Indian market but also aligns with our global vision for quality. We’re proud to be setting new standards across our locations!

InterRail Europe GmbH, Germany, is ISO certified

Frankfurt, 10 June 2024. On the right track when it comes to quality management and sustainability: InterRail Europe GmbH is the first company within the InterRail Group to be certified for its integrated management system.

Certification according to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) offers the company a number of advantages. Firstly, it signals to customers, partners and authorities that InterRail offer high-quality and legally compliant services. This helps to remain competitive and strengthen customer loyalty. Secondly, sustainability is becoming increasingly important. This gives the opportunity to win new customers and enter new markets.

Anna Böhm, Integrated Management System Manager at InterRail Europe GmbH, is convinced of the benefits of certification: “As part of the InterRail Group, we offer our customers tailor-made logistics solutions in Eurasia, and this certification is further proof that what we do and how we do it is high quality and environmentally friendly as far as it is possible within the scope of our operations. For us the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification is proof that we are on the right track.”

Integrated management system

InterRail Europe GmbH has introduced an integrated management system (IMS). The uniform structure of the management system standards, the so-called “high-level structure”, makes it possible to utilize the synergy of the requirements of the environmental management system and the quality management system and to create a uniform management system. “As the two management systems function as a single integrated solution, we can save our resources (personnel, finances and time) and have a certain degree of certainty when it comes to complying with legislation,” explains Anna Böhm. And there is more to come: “Following the successful introduction of an integrated management system and certification by our certification body LRQA, the next step is to tackle GDP.”

InterRail and Hubei Ports work more closely together

Frankfurt, 4 June 2024. As part of the recent “China (Hubei) and Germany Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference”, InterRail Europe and Hubei Port Group Co. Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on joint cooperation.

Hubei Port Group is the operator of 48 ports in Hubei Province, China, providing comprehensive services in port services, integrated logistics and more.

Based on our long-standing expertise in European rail freight transportation and the existing network in Europe and Asia, we would like to create a strategic hub for international and domestic transportation around Hubei Province together with Hubei Port Group.

We look forward to a successful cooperation in logistics, trade, warehousing and customs to provide even better solutions for our customers worldwide.