Description

About Jörg Nowaczyk

Jörg has extensive experience in logistics and transportation, having begun his career in the industry in 1989. He initially worked in road logistics before transitioning to the railway sector. Over more than a decade at TX Logistik, he played a key role in shaping today’s intermodal network. Subsequently, he joined Rail Cargo Group, where he focused on developing the rail business in Germany. In 2019, Jörg became Chief Commercial Officer at GATX Rail Europe. In addition to his professional roles, he is actively involved in several industry organizations, such as Allianz Pro Schiene, contributing to the development of the rail ecosystem. Jörg resides in Hamburg.

About GATX Rail Europe

The company is a leading railcar lessor, offering a diverse fleet across 20+ European countries. With a service-oriented team, the company simplifies railcar leasing and transport, allowing customers to focus on their core business. Serving over 240 clients across industries, GATX's 29,000+ railcars provide efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-competitive transport solutions. The company has strategically located offices and a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Poland, with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. GATX Rail Europe is part of GATX Corporation, a 125+ year-old company listed on the NYSE.

My key take aways

• European Rail Freight Market: Europe has 680,000 railcars, with one-third owned by lessors, while the US market is larger and more unified.
• Challenges in Europe: Europe's fragmented regulations and systems make rail freight operations more complex compared to the US.
• Slow Technological Change: Rail wagon technology has seen minimal innovation over the past century, with only incremental improvements.
• Shift to Intermodal Solutions: The future of rail freight lies in intermodal solutions, offering flexibility and better logistics integration.
• Rising Costs: Railcar prices have doubled recently, posing financial challenges for both lessors and operators.
• DAC Technology: Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) technology is crucial for modernizing rail but is expensive and still in testing.
• Cost Pressures: New technologies like DAC and ETCS increase costs, making rail less competitive against road transport.
• Growth for Lessors: The market for private wagon lessors is growing as traditional rail operators shift to renting.
• GATX's Role: GATX, a major railcar lessor, is focusing on tank and gas cars while investing in new technologies and green initiatives.
• CO2 Transport: GATX is preparing for the emerging market of CO2 transport by designing specialized railcars to meet growing demand.

Sebastian Sperker

railup.club

sebastian@railup.club