Industrial companies are preparing for significant restrictions due to the train drivers’ strike by the GDL union. In particular, industries that rely heavily on rail transport will have to reorganize their plans. “The announced six-day rail strike is putting a strain on transport logistics in Germany and Europe and thus also on companies in the German automotive industry,” said the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
Companies did react and, where possible, converted supply and logistics chains. “However, a short-term shift from rail to road is extremely difficult,” it said. In recent years, many companies in the industry have shifted their transport to the road. “As a result, the potential in this regard has been largely exhausted.” The VDA also said that finished vehicles are primarily transported by rail.
The strike also represents a major challenge for the chemical industry, as the Association of the Chemical Industry (VCI) announced. “The companies immediately developed flexible solutions with their customers and logistics service providers,” it said. “But these can only partially compensate for the restrictions and delays in rail logistics.”
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Better progress in the empty network
On Monday night, the GDL announced a multi-day strike in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn. Passenger traffic will be on strike from 2 a.m. on Wednesday, and freight traffic will be on strike from 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The industrial action is not expected to end until Monday evening. “144 hours of strike have a direct impact on industrial supply chains and disrupt them sustainably,” complained the railway’s freight transport subsidiary, DB Cargo.
The Freight Railways Association, which primarily organizes cargo competitors, pointed out that Deutsche Bahn only has a market share of around 40 percent in rail freight transport. “60 percent of rail freight transport runs as usual and often even reaches its destination better because of an empty network,” said association managing director Peter Westenberger. The private companies also occasionally pick up goods that DB Cargo cannot transport due to the strike.
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The railway itself, however, pointed out its own importance for European freight transport. “DB Cargo is a European network railway, unlike many competitors who primarily offer simple shuttle services,” the company said. The GDL strike is therefore primarily a strike against the German economy. Single-wagon transport, in which goods are picked up directly from the customer by train, is particularly affected. The wagons are then assembled into long freight trains in marshalling yards and these are taken apart again at the other end of the route.
Industrial companies are preparing for significant restrictions due to the train drivers’ strike by the GDL union. In particular, industries that rely heavily on rail transport will have to reorganize their plans. “The announced six-day rail strike is putting a strain on transport logistics in Germany and Europe and thus also on companies in the German automotive industry,” said the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
Companies did react and, where possible, converted supply and logistics chains. “However, a short-term shift from rail to road is extremely difficult,” it said. In recent years, many companies in the industry have shifted their transport to the road. “As a result, the potential in this regard has been largely exhausted.” The VDA also said that finished vehicles are primarily transported by rail.