RM: The rail freight transport sector in Europe is currently experiencing difficulties. What is the situation in the RAILVIS digital environment, and how is RAILVIS responding?
Ctirad Klimanek: During this challenging period of declining transport volumes and unused rail wagons and locomotives across Europe, RAILVIS provides valuable information and connections. Our platform is particularly valuable in challenging times. It helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and to secure the utilisation or sale of wagons in regions where they are needed. It also enables them to obtain competitive prices very quickly for block train transport or individual shipments of wagons or containers across Europe and between Europe and Asia.
RM: What are RAILVIS.com's current priorities?
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Ctirad Klimanek: Our main goal is to maximise the use of the platform's existing features and ensure it fulfils its role to the fullest extent. We are focusing on leasing and selling wagons and locomotives, as well as providing quick quotes for rail and intermodal transport. RAILVIS gives clients an overview of the pan-European market, and our aim is to provide them with even better statistics and forecasts to inform their investment decisions. We are also working on improving the user interface to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. This will help our clients to use the platform more efficiently and increase their productivity. We intend to enhance our digital railway maps, which already offer the ability to calculate all available railway routes and provide a detailed satellite view, by adding an overview of transhipment, parking, and repair options on the pan-European railway network.
RM: RAILVIS operates across Europe. Does the approach to using the platform differ in different parts of Europe?
Ctirad Klimanek: Our truly pan-European network makes the platform highly efficient, enabling fast connections between distant entities. Our clients include almost all national railways, the largest private operators, freight forwarders, and wagon lessors. For example, wagons and locomotives that are no longer used in Germany or Italy can be used in Serbia or Romania. Transport price requests are used throughout Europe without distinction. Due to the difficult economic situation, state railways in Western and Central Europe are now selling off their wagon fleets and finding clients in other European regions, as well as on other continents. Thanks to RAILVIS, we have successfully offered several hundred wagons to Africa.
RM: RAILVIS has been on the market for five years. What is its current status?
Ctirad Klimanek: RAILVIS is now a financially stable product that is growing organically. We focus on continuously improving our processes and the platform environment. Our team has remained consistent for over two years without any changes. Our sales and operations departments work together to provide a daily service to our customers. Each team member is important to us, and we strive to provide the best possible conditions for our people. Our work requires a great deal of flexibility as we often travel to visit existing and new clients throughout Europe. It is demanding but interesting work that is constantly evolving.
RM: How do you envisage freight rail in Europe by 2030? What is RAILVIS' mission for this period?
Ctirad Klimanek: Personally, I expect volumes to decline further over the next 2–3 years as the European economy and freight transport go through a difficult period. However, every crisis presents an opportunity! Railway companies will have to optimise and modernise their daily operations if they are to overcome this crisis and emerge from it stronger and more stable. I believe that RAILVIS can contribute to this transformation. Our mission is to remain the largest European digital freight rail platform, and we intend to gradually expand to cover all aspects by incorporating additional sectors, such as repairs, human resources, and spare parts. We also see growth potential across the entire Eurasian continent, where the rail market is developing dynamically.
RM: RAILVIS will have its stand at the world transport fair Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich. What are your expectations and goals for this event?
Ctirad Klimanek: It is a valuable opportunity to showcase our platform to a diverse audience of global logistics professionals, as well as to raise awareness of RAILVIS as a leading digital freight rail platform. We also aim to strengthen our relationships with key partners and acquire new customers. To make the meeting more enjoyable, we will serve traditional Czech cuisine, as well as beer and wine.
