International Rail Freight Business Association (IBS) e.V.

The IBS was founded in 1996 as the European Association of Rail Freight Forwarders. The association is registered as a registered association at the Berlin-Charlottenburg Court of Associations and operates on the basis of statutes. The offices are located in Berlin (main office) and Brussels. The association is managed by a board consisting of the chairman and four members responsible for key specialist areas.

In 2016, the association celebrated its 20th anniversary and can look back on a very dynamic history. Since 2016, the IBS has expanded its membership and renamed itself the "International Rail Freight Business Association".

The members of the IBS are listed in a membership directory and their member companies are linked.

Admission conditions and admission form regulate entry into the association. All members provide information on current developments and planned events organised by their companies/associations on this website.

Goals

The current focus of IBS work is on developing a product to renew wagonload traffic, developing the necessary terminals and supporting digitalization.

Events

A spring and an autumn conference as well as regular board meetings structure the IBS work. Workshops are organized on key topics and working groups of specialized members are formed.

Publications

All external lectures, presentations by the board and members of the IBS at congresses and workshops as well as interesting publications are available.

Members

The majority of members are shippers, freight forwarders and train operators. Furthermore, z. B. Wagon owners, terminal operators as well as IT and consulting companies form the association.

Multimodal freight transport solutions

The current product range in rail freight transport is not sufficient for the planned modal shift from road to rail.

• utilisation of alternative bundling functions
  Inclusion of relevant wagon and single wagonload traffic
  Regional load bundling via efficient MFT
  Regional bulk shippers interested in handling for third parties
  Separation of block train units with empty return wagons
  
• web-based traffic optimisation
  Rail Facilities Portal (RFP) exists throughout Europe
  Traffic flow database (IBS project)
  Portal for marketing free train paths/slots on trains
  
• proposal for operational and operative measures
  Takeover of management by large, efficient rail transport companies (RCG)
  Conceptual international multimodal network (TransNET)
  Control of business development via main corridors (TransFER)
  Linking diamond traffic with corridor traffic via operational and logistical interfaces
  Co-operation with regional rail transport companies (contractual arrangements)
  Identifying and securing the necessary infrastructure, including shunting infrastructure in the MFTs
  
• proposal for commercial measures
  Dynamic pricing models
  Kick-back contracts in difficult competitive situations
  Billing models (regionally differentiated) with partner and rhombic RUs
  Operating cost subsidisation according to the German model
  
• supporting measures
  Clear product definition/demarcation of CT
  Implementation of pilot project with RCG
  Gradual networking of multifunctional terminals
  Multi-purpose wagons/innovative transport containers
  Coordination with shippers' associations
  Prioritisation of funding (EU/national/regional)