RSC makes more effective use of capacity thanks to OnTrack

The process coordinators at Waalhaven’s Rail Service Center (RSC) are enthusiastic about the application OnTrack, a co-creation of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and various private parties. OnTrack provides real-time insight in the handling of freight trains at terminals in Rotterdam and allows users to track their journey to destinations in the European hinterland. This allows RSC to utilise the available rail and terminal capacity more effectively.

kraan

OnTrack bundles data provided by ProRail, terminals and rail operators and makes this information available to all links in the rail freight chain in digital form. The application has been used by 15 process coordinators at RSC since spring 2019. “We no longer need to input information in the app manually,” says process coordinator Marco de Keizer. “Data relating to the operations at our terminal are automatically shared with OnTrack via our Terminal Operating System (TOS).”

Quicker access to information

Every year, RSC loads and unloads some 300,000 containers on and from freight trains. To make sure these operations run smoothly, RSC’s process coordinators remain in close touch with operators and staff at other terminals. Thanks to OnTrack, they spend less time phoning and emailing each other. And the process coordinators have quicker access to information. De Keizer: “We agree specific slots with rail operators for the handling of their trains. If a train doesn’t arrive at the agreed-upon time, we’re stuck with an empty track. This is a problem for us, since loading and unloading containers is basically how we earn our money. In the old days, I would phone the operator if a train hadn’t arrived 5 minutes before the start of its slot. At which point they’d sometimes tell me that the train was already running six hours late. If I had known this sooner I could have assigned the slot to a different operator and utilised our capacity more efficiently.” Supervisor Marco Hilboesen recognises this issue: “One time an operator told me his train would be coming in any minute. When it still hadn’t arrived an hour later, I got on the phone again. And? The train was still standing by in Emmerich. OnTrack allows us to avoid situations like that. We can track ships and planes the world over, but so far we couldn’t do the same for trains. With OnTrack, we know exactly where a train is right now, and when it will be arriving. Very useful indeed.”

No interference

Delays in rail transport are quite common, unfortunately. This is due to all sorts of reasons: from bad weather to work on the track, delays at the terminals or a faulty rail vehicle. With OnTrack, users can share such deviations from the planning in real time – enabling every player in the chain to anticipate possible delays. “If everyone shares the correct information in a timely manner, we can avoid interference and misunderstandings,” says De Keizer. “That’s the big advantage of this approach compared to emails and phone calls. You don’t have to find everything out yourself: OnTrack hands you the correct information straight away.”

Optimal planning

De Keizer always starts his shift at short terminal planning by checking OnTrack. The application allows him to filter which information he’s interested in. “I use OnTrack like a kind of Google, to make an optimal planning. Recently, after checking the app I saw that a train that was scheduled to arrive overnight was already near the terminal that afternoon. Since one of our tracks was available, I could call the operator and have his train handled sooner. But you also have cases where the operator is too optimistic about an ETA, and I decide to assign his slot to a different operator based on the information found in OnTrack. The train that’s running late is put next in line. The sooner I’m aware of a delay, the shorter I can keep such a waiting line.”

Chain-wide approach

RSC is currently the most active OnTrack user in the port of Rotterdam. The application is also used by all the major container terminals at Maasvlakte. Of the 13 rail operators that have a permit for using the Dutch railway network, 11 participate in this programme. The Port Authority is also urging other operators to join in. “We are delighted with the commitment these parties have all shown to sharing their data,” says Maarten de Haan of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. “With every new company that joins the programme, we get an even better idea of the trains’ precise location and the status of their containers and freight.” Marco de Keizer confirms the importance of a chain-wide approach: “If the various links in the chain all share their data openly and honestly, operators have a better idea of when their train is finished at the terminals. We’ve noticed that from a competition point of view companies are occasionally sensitive about sharing data, and that they often think in terms of their own interest. But the best way to improve the rail product is by working together.”

Capitalising on opportunities

A better rail product means that delays within the chain can be shortened – or even removed altogether. De Keizer: “A shipper isn’t interested in where a delay occurs exactly in the chain, as long as it’s resolved and the container arrives at the distribution centre at the agreed-upon time. This can only be achieved by working together. The port of Rotterdam is making a stronger investment in rail transport. This will help raise sustainability in the freight transport sector. Sharing data enables us to capitalise on those opportunities that present themselves, leaving everyone with a bigger slice of pie.”

Co-creation

The Port Authority plans to develop OnTrack further in close collaboration with the users. De Haan: “They have daily experience with this business. We need their feedback to make OnTrack even more suited for interactive communication and ensure that it reflects the actual situation even more precisely. We regularly consult with them on these matters. This co-creation allows us to add value to the users’ processes and broaden support for this programme. We will be further expanding the application’s functions in the months ahead.” Among other things, the Port Authority is working on a planning module in OnTrack that removes the need for process coordinators at the terminals to draw up plannings themselves. Hilboesen is looking forward to this: “Next year, RSC will be switching to a new system that is already in use at a large number of terminals. However, this system lacks a standard planning module. If this can be arranged via OnTrack rather than internally, we don’t have to ask our supplier to make this module for us. What’s more, it means operators and clients can look over our shoulder and check whether we have any handling capacity left. We already post this information on our website, but OnTrack is more precise and furthermore allows our clients to actively respond to our planning. This will intensify interaction even further.”

‘Uber button’

At RSC, they have recognised further opportunities to optimise capacity utilisation: by not only speeding up the ‘allocation process’ – i.e. the planning of incoming trains – but also the outflow of trains that have been handled at the terminal. De Keizer: “When we’re nearly done with a train, we send a request via TOS asking the operator to come pick it up with an engine. We need to wait for this to have happened before moving in the next train. In many cases, it takes a while for the engine to arrive. In the meantime, the next train is kept waiting at the yard. Wouldn’t it be great if we could speed up this process?” De Haan: “If the terminal is able to communicate the expected end time of handling earlier on in the process, actually integrating this notification in OnTrack is fairly straightforward for us. Resulting in a kind of ‘Uber button’ that alerts operators when they can move their train out of the facility.”

READ MORE ABOUT ONTRACK

Bron: https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/news-and-press-releases/rsc-makes-more-effective-use-of-capacity-thanks-to-ontrack

Rail Service Center Rotterdam – Always on the right track

For 25 years Rail Service Center Rotterdam unloads and loads shuttle trains with containers, trailers and swap bodies 24 hours a day. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Rail Service Center Rotterdam, a nice compilation has been made of the work at Rail Service Center Rotterdam.

 

What makes rail a great modality

Rail Service Center loads and unloads about 35 to 40 trains a day. How does this work? And what makes rail a great modality? Portvlogger Robin visits RSC and talks to BM Gilbert Bal about the benefits.

Total power-down RSC Rotterdam during 7/8 July 2018

We would like to inform you about maintenance of our powersupply planned to be executed during 07 and 08 July 2018. All powersupply of RSC-Rotterdam will be switched off starting Saturday 07 July 23:00hr and re-connected Sunday 08 July 15:00hr. During these maintenance-activities, communicationpossibilites will be zero as consequences to- and from RSC-Rotterdam. This includes also all computer-communications.

During these maintenance-activities, trainmovements will be impossible during 07 July 23:00hr and 08 July 15:00hr. Trains which normally are positioned at RSC-Rotterdam, but have to leave RSC-Rotterdam before 15:00hr 08 July, have to be re-positioned to another location.

Also we ask special attention to reefercontainers. We request all clients to take out all reefercontainers before Saturday  08 July 14:00hr.
Mounting reefers during mentioned timeperiod will be impossible due to lack of power.

If questions remains after reading this announcement, please contact our Customerservice 0031 – 10 4913611  or 0031 – 10 4913685

Agency office Rail Service Center Maasvlakte will be closed at 15-1-2018

Dear relation,

At 15-01-2018 07.00 hours the agency office of the Rail Service Center on the Maasvlakte will be closed.
Our agency activities will be continued from our office at the Reeweg 35 Rotterdam Waalhaven (port number 2750) in the RST building.
The new telephone numbers will be +31 10 4913674 or +31 10 4913675.
The mailadress of our agency will not be change.

We hope to have informed you sufficiently.

August 26th RSC gate closed at 12:00hr

Saturday 26-08-2017 our temporary gate-office for truckdrivers will move to it’s final location inside the RST-building. To realise the re-location in time, it’s necessary to end our desk-activities at 12:00hr instead of 14:00hr. After mentioned time it’s not possible anymore to handle trucks!

Our truckdesk-activities will be fully operational again starting 23:00hr 27/08/2017 at it’s final location; 1st floor at RST-building. It’s entrance is located next to it’s present location.

Please advise your relations / truckingcompanies.

Welcome to our new website!

Our website is fully renewed. We hope to provide you with better and clearer information.

Responsive design
The new website is responsive. This means that it doesn’t matter whether you use your telephone, tablet or PC. From now on our website is always clearly legible and usable.

Your visit to RSC
When planning a visit to RSC we recommend to have a look at the page, so you are aware of the safety rules that apply at the terminal and the gate.

My services
If you would like to know more about your train or you would like to check whether there is a unit at RSC, please use the page My services.

More information
On our new website, you will find more information than before. But because a website is never complete, we will continue to develop the website. If you miss information or you have tips or remarks, please do contact us via the contact form.