On Tuesday last week, a delegation from the UIC Freight team led by Sandra Géhénot, the UIC Freight Director, was warmly received by one of its most important members, TCDD Taşımacılık. They wanted to discuss how UIC could broaden its involvement by adding value to its regional and global rail activities.
In the first meeting Hasan Pezük, the Director General, accompanied by Safi Çatal, the Head of Strategy Development, welcomed the UIC delegation consisting of Sandra Géhénot, the Freight Director, Philip Van den Bosch, and Hakan Günel both Senior Freight Advisors to TCCD Taşımacılık. Pezük updated the UIC delegation on the important strategic initiatives that TCDD Taşımacılık is undertaking to increase rail freight’s modal share in the near future. He also stressed how important the long-standing partnership with UIC is. Géhénot thanked Pezük for the kind welcome and outlined UIC’s and the Freight Department’s current strategic focus areas. She mentioned supporting UIC freight members in implementing digital game changers such as the DAC, the Digital Platform, and digital capacity management. She also gave information on setting up a strong regional (RAME) group with a specific focus on freight and logistical activities while inviting Pezük and TCDD Taşımacılık to be a driving force within this new RAME freight group. The meeting was concluded with Pezük offering Géhénot a gift. The scale model of the first train to be acquired by TCDD over 160 years ago is going to be given centre place at the UIC offices.
In the second talk, the UIC delegation received concrete facts and figures on TCDD Taşımacılık. Naci Özçelik, the Acting Head of Freight, explained that TCDD Taşımacılık is the largest rail (freight) operator in Turkey by far. In 2021, TCDD Taşımacılık transported over 33 million tons of goods with a 87% domestic business and 13% international business split across all major commodity types, of which ore and coal form the largest share. These transport volumes are achieved using approx. 16,500 wagons and 654 locomotives. Despite having a difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is continuing to grow.
The afternoon workshop focused on wagon related issues, loading guidelines, joint transport, data exchange and corridors. There was a detailed discussion on issues currently hindering a more rapid growth of the rail freight business and support areas for UIC were identified.
Lastly, the UIC delegation met with DEMUHDER, an association of engineers with whom UIC recently signed a MoU. Key topics discussed were capacity management, capacity assessment, and data exchange; topics where the UIC technical asset base forms the foundation for efficient rail operation.
