The provision of freight transport services will become project-based

We would like to inform you that in the future, AS Operail will conclude contracts for the provision of freight transport services to each customer on a separate price offer on a project basis.

The reason for the change is a significant decrease in the volume of goods. The war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022, changed the market situation in the 1,520 mm railway sector. Due to the sanctions imposed against Russia, the volume of goods transported on the Estonian railway infrastructure decreased by nearly 40%. From 2023, Operail cannot transport unsanctioned Russian and Belarusian goods either. As a result, the volumes of goods served have decreased even further.

Freight transport by rail is a volume business – the transport of a small number of wagons is the most expensive. Therefore, Operail can unfortunately no longer ensure a constant readiness to transport small quantities between all stations open for freight transport in Estonia. In the future, we can offer optimal service to small groups of wagons if the client’s desired haulage can be combined with the transport of other goods.

Instead of a permanent contract with a uniform price and discount, we will make a separate price offer for the project of each client. After agreeing on the price and terms of services, we will conclude a project-based contract. The offered prices depend on the volume of the goods, the route, and the timing of the haulage.

The currently valid AS Operail freight payment calculation guide, i.e., the price list, is being revised. We will publish the updated guide for calculating freight charges on the Operail website as soon as possible.

Despite the situation at hand, we welcome and encourage both former and new clients to contact us with their projects. We will consider each project separately and offer the best possible individual solution. From our side, Maire Talihärm (maire.taliharm@operail.com) and Kirill Spektor (kirill.spektor@operail.com) will be glad to assist to you.

(Source: https://operail.com/en/news/kaubaveoteenuse-osutamine-muutub-projektipohiseks/)