state Railways grows in logistics and becomes the second freight operator in Germany. Its subsidiary TX Logistics bought the German competitor Explore Germanyactive in rail freight transport.
The operation, explains a note, represents a further step towards the objective of passing from 1,8 to 5 billion in turnover in a decade declared in the industrial plan of FS.
What does Exploris
The international rail connections of Exploris move above all along the east-west axis and therefore complete the network of TX Logistics, present in particular along the north-south axis of Europe. Through the companies of Exploris Deutschland Holding GmbH Hamburg, including Via Cargo, HSL Logistik and Delta Rail, Polo Logistica will operate in rail freight transport in eight European countries (Germany, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland ).
Explore focuses mainly on rail freight transport in the conventional transport segment: it currently operates around 240 trains per week, dedicated to the transport of steel, gypsum, agricultural products, automobiles, construction machinery or mineral oil products for numerous industrial customers and logistic. These traffics complement and add to those of TX Logistik, a company mainly specialized in intermodal transport and combined transport with connections with container trains in the hinterland traffic of seaports. Therefore, complementary activities and a portfolio that is enriched by European industrial customers.
An increase in turnover of 500 million is expected
The organic grows with 500 employees who, added to TX's 700, bring consistency to 1200 Guests , locomotive fleet: 91 of TX are joined by 75 of Exploris. The turnover is also growing, which could exceed 500 million euros. The activities of the acquired companies also include shipping services, carried out by own companies in Germany and Poland; railway shunting services, also in Germany and Poland and its own academy for the training and refresher courses of train drivers. The academy represents an important resource for countering the shortage of qualified personnel, a critical element for the entire railway sector.
FS's commitment to exports
"An operation that makes us very proud and confirms our great determination in positioning the logistics business in the international arena to support the development of imports and exports of our country in support of Made in Italy" he said Sabrina De Filippis, managing director of Mercitalia Logistics which holds 100% of the shares of TX. “Furthermore, with this acquisition, we have established a further fundamental pillar to achieve the objectives of the European Union for the modal shift for the mobility of goods, in favor of rail transport, also to fully respond to the essential needs of the ecosystem for the aspects environmental and energy".