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SURCO Operations I - course

The Escola Europea successfully completes its first digital edition of the SURCO course in rail-port operations

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Following the successes of past editions of the SURCO series, the Escola has developed the SURCO Operations I course for Spanish professionals for the first time in digital format. The course offers introductory training in the field of rail-port and intermodal rail logistics.

The course took place from 1 to 4 February. Designed for professionals from freight transport companies, freight forwarders and import and export companies, as well as others interested in the use of rail transport, the course carries out an analysis of the different elements necessary to offer efficient intermodal transport solutions (rail and sea). On this occasion, companies such as GoTransport, Captrain, BEST HutchisonPorts, Puertos del Estado and the Port of Barcelona have participated.

During 4 days, the course participants had the opportunity to learn about the infrastructures and equipment used in rail-port connections and to have contact with operators who currently manage these types of operations. The lectures given covered maritime-rail transport and logistics, rail services necessary for the transport of goods, elements included in a rail invoice, as well as rail terminals in ports and their traffic management centres. All of the lectures were given with an operational approach and focused on the direct application of the knowledge acquired. The edition has also offered a detailed analysis of the current situation of Spanish ports in terms of infrastructures, characteristics of the railway network and service areas.

The course was carried out in collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, Puertos del Estado, Adif, Autoterminal, LogiRail, ICL, Hutchison BEST terminal, Transportes Portuarios, Portic, Go Transport and Transportes Tomàs.

SURCO Operations I is a precursor for the SURCO Operations II course – this year’s edition of which will take place in May 2021. For more information, you can check out the course page on the website or contact the Escola.

Container on tracks in the TCB terminal - Escola Europea's SURCO course

Escola Europea adapts its courses to an online format with more online exercises and virtual visits

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The Escola Europea has launched a new edition of one of its signature training courses – SURCO (Simple Use of Railway Connections), which is scheduled to begin next February.

The training, originally designed to be carried out in person to offer an overly practical experience of the subject matter, will now be provided virtually and on a part-time basis. This shift was caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Escola’s original training model. A less intensive online format will also allow for “a greater flexibility for the students to adapt – in particular those who have to combine training with their jobs”.

The SURCO course has been in considerable demand over the past years and we are confident that it will continue to be so after its adaptation to an online format. – Marta Miquel – Chief Business Officer of the Escola Europea Intermodal Transport

Requirements

Moreover, the new SURCO courses from the Escola Europea are designed to meet the needs of the students, so that “they can incorporate more practical sessions and the study of successful business cases”, said Marta Miquel. Furthermore, “they also have virtual visits to the facilities through audio-visual elements, with videos of guided explanations of the different operations”, she adds.

For the moment, the course has been confirmed by the Escola Europea for its next edition. “As the health crisis situation progresses, we will re-evaluate the types of courses announced on our website and we will study the possibility of reintroducing the in-person part of the training. Nevertheless, we believe that the pandemic has marked a turning point in training formats and that probably, from now on, we will combine the two modalities in our courses”, highlighted Marta Miquel.

By Alba Tejera, Diario del Puerto

This article first appeared on the Diario del Puerto website.

Railway Lines

The essential railway infrastructure and equipment – Spotlight on Spain

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The European railway system transports around 1.6 billion tonnes of freight each year. The railway is central to the EU’s strategy for a more sustainable transport sector, helping ensure economic and social cohesion and connecting Europeans within and between Member States.

The density of the national rail networks reflects the different geographical characteristics of the countries, with the Nordic and Baltic countries having the lowest rail network density on the continent.

Rail has the potential to play an important role in accelerating the reduction of transport emissions. “Rail only represented 2% of total transport energy consumption in the EU, while representing for 11.2% of freight and 6.6% of passengers in all modes of transport in 2016” (data from the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the European Council, 2019). However, rail freight also has a number of other advantages: improved safety of goods compared to other means, lower accident rates, more storage capacity as a large volume of cargo can be transported over very long distances, and the potential for intermodality, if necessary.

Maintaining and renewing the existing network to improve safety and operational performance as well as ensuring a reliable service is a major challenge for infrastructure managers, especially in the face of increased traffic and demanding performance targets set by national authorities and operators.

This results in a number of disadvantages that caused this means to not be one of the most used for the transport of goods. It is conditional on the existence of infrastructures that are non-existent in some European countries. In addition, this means that, unlike other means, there are very few occasions when it can reach the warehouse or the final destination of the goods without the help of complementary means (such as the road).

Mandatory Intermodality

Rail transport falls under the intermodality umbrella, as it requires road transport to chauffer the goods from the point of origin to the railways, and to their final destinations. Rail gauge: The width of the gauge can differ from one country to another, which can cause difficulties in the transhipment of goods, and thus result in a significant increase in the expense of money and time.

The EU’s railways continue to grow. Rail markets are gradually opening up and safety levels remain high. This sector is increasingly demanding in terms of performance, innovation and responsiveness to customer needs. Rail transport’s fight to increase its modal share remains centered around interoperability and cross-border coordination issues. Corridors are a key part of the Commission’s policy to boost rail freight. The Rail Freight Regulation and the train drivers Directive are still being evaluated in order to boost and facilitate rail transport.

Spain

Locomotive of RENFE - the Spanish railway operator

In Spain, the railway represents around 4% of the total freight transport market. This market share has decreased in recent years in favour of road transport. Although part of this trend is common to other countries, the rail market share in Spain is much smaller. For example, rail represents 19% of the total goods market in Germany and 15% in France –  nearly four times the Spanish equivalent.

If the sector can convince transporters to opt for rail motorways to reduce costs, and get exporters and importers to bring their goods to the ports through the use of the rail, it is likely to grow in the coming years.

To improve international rail freight traffic, France and Spain have re-launched two rail motorways between the two countries, through a call for expressions of interest. This marks the first step in finding out whether or not the infrastructure is viable in the region.

Intrigued? The Escola organises courses focusing in particular on maritime rail and maritime-road intermodal solutions, called SURCO. Contact us if you’d like to know more and to find out when the next courses will take place.

Written by:

  • Raquel Nunes – Co-founder of Youngship Portugal
SURCO workshop - Group photo

The Escola Europea trains professionals in port-railway operations

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After the successes obtained in the past editions of the SURCO series, the Escola has once again held the SURCO Operations I course for Spanish professionals, which offers introductory training in matters of rail-port and intermodal railway logistics.

The course took place from the 10th to the 12th of June in Barcelona. Designed for professionals from freight transport companies, freight forwarders and import and export companies, the course offers an analysis of the different elements necessary to carry out efficient intermodal transport solutions (rail and sea). This month companies such as Inditex, Repsol, Inovyn, the ports of Huelva and Bilbao, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Marcotran and Ocidenave sent participants to partake in the training.

During the three days, the course participants had the opportunity to see the infrastructures and equipment used in the rail-port connections and to have contact with operators that currently manage these types of operations. The theoretical classes covered maritime-rail transport and logistics, railway services necessary for the transport of goods and railway terminals in ports. The training also offered a detailed analysis of the current situation of Spanish ports in terms of infrastructures, characteristics of the railway networks and service areas.

To complement the theoretical classes, the course offered practical visits to the Port of Barcelona (Hutchison BEST semi-automatic container terminal, AUTOTERMINAL vehicle terminal and ICL solid bulk terminal); a visit to the CAN TUNIS complex, and in particular to the sorting terminal and logistic operator LOGISTAINER; and a visit to ADIF’s integrated traffic control centre.

SURCO Operations I was carried out with the collaboration of the Port of Barcelona, Puertos del Estado, Adif, Autoterminal, FGC Ferrocarrils, ICL, the Hutchison BEST terminal, Transportes Portuarios, Go Transport and Transportes Tomàs.

The Escola Europea kicks off the year with a course in railway intermodality

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During the third week of January the first course for professionals of 2019 was organised by the Escola Europea – SURCO Operations II. This course offered advanced training in intermodal logistics and international freight transport.

The training is directed at professionals linked to companies involved with freight transport, shippers and/or port authorities.

The course analyses the different elements required for the provision of rail services, and give the necessary training and information to those who manage logistics chains in which the railroad is seen as a cost-effective alternative for services, cost or time. It also promotes the use of rail transport by exploring its characteristics.

The group of more than 20 participants came from companies such as SEAT, DB Shenker, NAFOSA, Campofrío. PortIC, Logiral, Aralogic, and from port authorities and dry ports (Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Castellón, Avilés, Santander, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Cartagena, and Azuqueca. They had the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in international rail transport. Alongside the theoretical classes, two out of the five days of the course were dedicated to practical workshops: one in Zaragoza to see the operations of the traffic control centre of ADIF and from the Maritime Terminal of Zaragoza (tmZ), and the other to discover the various railway infrastructures on the border between Spain and France (Port Bou terminal, LFP (transborder tunnel of Pertús) and the LorryRail terminal). The format of the training impressed all of the participants, as stressed by one of the participants “The visits were very useful, and combining theory and practical workshops is very good. The global experience is very good and extremely satisfying.”

From the 10th to the 12th of June 2019, a new edition of SURCO Operations I will take place in Barcelona. This introductory course will offer training in logistics and railway operators, infrastructures and equipment, legislation and documentation, freight railway services and railway terminals in ports. For more information you can consult: https://escolaeuropea.eu/calendar/surco-operations-i-2019/ . In the first half of 2019 the Escola will hold four other courses dedicated to professionals which will focus on technical aspects of transport (including temperature controlled freight, consolidated shipments and port operations). You can find information of these courses on the Escola’s website.

The Escola Europea trains professionals in intermodal railway logistics

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After the stellar successes obtained during the past editions of the SURCO series, the Escola has completed this summer’s SURCO Operations I course for Spanish professionals, which offered introductory training on intermodal railway logistics.

The course took place between the 2nd and the 4th of July 2018 in Barcelona. Designed for professionals of freight transport companies in the maritime and railway sectors and students of logistics and transport, it introduced an analysis of the different elements needed in order to offer efficient services in intermodal railway-maritime transport.

SURCO (Simple Use of Railway COnnections) courses aim to promote the use of railway transport by providing training and necessary information to those professionals who will decide on and manage logistics chains in the future in which the railway could be used as a viable alternative in terms of services, costs and time. They also work towards the promotion of co-modality as a viable and sustainable alternative to transport that relies primarily on the road.

During the 3 days the course participants had the opportunity to discover infrastructures and equipment involved in port-railway transport and learned about the regulations and documents necessary to manage rail freight transport services in intermodal interactions. The theoretical lectures covered maritime-rail transport and logistics, rail services required for freight transport, and rail terminals in ports. The July edition also offered a detailed analysis of the current situation in Spanish ports in terms of infrastructures, railway network characteristics, and the service zones, among other things. The theory was accompanied by practical visits to the Port of Barcelona (including trips to Hutchison BEST semi-automatic container terminal, AUTOTERMINAL car terminal and the solid bulk terminal Tramer, operated by ICL; a visit to a marshalling yard and to Logistainer, a logistic operator at CAN TUNIS complex; and a visit to ADIF’s integrated management centre.

SURCO Operations was carried out in collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, Adif, Autoterminal, FGC Ferrocarrils, ICL, Hutchison’s BEST Terminal, Transportes Portuarios and Transportes Tomás.

The educational focus of the Escola is based on research: students attend lectures and practical workshops that encourage collaborative work and group cohesion as a means to optimize the development of logistics chains.

For more information check out the SURCO section of our website.

The Escola Europea to promote intermodal and sustainable transport

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The Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport will once again participate in the International Logistics Salon of Barcelona – the annual logistics fair in Spain.

Sharing a stand with one of its main shareholders –the Port of Barcelona­, the Escola will present its training offer for the second semester of 2018 and promote some of its projects; highlighting the growing influence and success of TransLogMED and Forma’t al Port.

In the summer months the Escola will hold the second edition of its technical training for professionals, focussed on Groupage operations and Consolidation Centres (18-20 of June). This course will be followed by an edition of Escola’s SURCO Operations I, focusing on rail- maritime intermodality, which will take place in Barcelona between the 2nd and 4th of July. In mid-July it will be the time of the Escola’s first ever Summer School on Port Operations (9-13 of July), a course designed for all kinds of profiles, professional, academic or vocational.

In autumn three editions of the Escola’s unique Motorways of the Sea Training (MOST) course will take place. The first of these, MOST Italy, will take place in September and will focus on the intermodal routes with short sea shipping maritime links in Italy. The second course MOST Iberia will take a closer look at the intermodal transport situation across the Iberian peninsula.

The Escola has been complementing its intermodal training package with the local Forma’t al Port project, whose goal is to bring young student closer to the professional ambience of the port communities. For the past three years the Escola has worked with Catalan training centres on professional work experience programmes. The courses have been hugely successful and will now be extended to Italian centres through a sister project Formati al Porto.

The other project to be promoted at SIL is TransLogMED. Through the promotion of international cooperation in transport transactions and by providing training in intermodal transport that knows no borders, the project aims to enhance the competencies and capabilities of transport and logistics operators from the Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean basin.

To find out more, come meet us at SIL at the stand D448 – E557. Alternatively you can write to info@escolaeuropea.eu.

Tag Archive for: SURCO

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