Through Development, Towards Profit

Signs of the so expected sudden change in better?

According to the data presented in a study performed by the National Statistics Institute, in the first months of the year 2001 the industrial production was increased with 8.4%, in comparison with the similar period of year 2000. In the same time, the volume of the goods transported has been increased with 0.5% - respectively, with 71,808,578 tones.
Yet, the above-mentioned increase of the volume of the goods transported on the railways is valid not only in point of internal traffic, which was increased with 11.4 %, in the international traffic registering a descendent evolution. During the period analyzed in this respect, the traffic of goods engaged in export relations has registered a decrease with 42.61% in comparison with the previous year. These are the consequences of the reduction of the goods exports (especially at the common metals and common metallic items, as well as the crude oil and oil products). Yet, the freight transport from import has been diminished (with 21.22%), due to the decrease of the imports especially at the crude oil and oil products, at the fertilizers and so on.
On product groups, in the first nine months of the year 2001 the most important weight between the goods transported on the railways have been represented by the solid mineral fuels (37.1%), raw and prefabricated materials (11.6%) and oil products (10.1%).

Advantageous current offers

As it is already known, in the last years the tariff strategy of CFR Marfa has been elaborated according to the laws that govern the market economy. They are aiming to attract the clients for the railway transport by promoting tariffs as accessible as possible, established at the minimal profit values, as well as by applying stimulating tariff reductions. We refer here to those granted for a bigger volume of goods transported or those for the complete trains or for the ferryboat transport - and through various other advantageous offers.
Thus, in point of the price policy within CFR Marfa during year 2001 we have to point out the fact that there have been two moments when there has been operated the recalculation of the tariffs. This measure has been taken in order to take over the effects of the inflation and to harmonize these prices with the international tariff level. Remarkable is the fact that in the evolution of the prices applied by the company (expressed in USD/tone) has been registered, generally, a descendent tendency. The only moments of year 2001 which have interrupted this evolution have been imposed by the necessity to adjust the tariffs taking into consideration the effects of the inflation, the up dating that has been achieved on March and October. As a consequence of the adopted strategy, during the analyzed period (11 months of year 2001) CFR Marfa SA has registered a turnover of 10,736,320,733 thousand ROL, fact that represented an increase with 28% in comparison with the one achieved in year 2000.

Perspective vision

An important step has been achieved through the development of the combined transport activities, in comparison with the situation of previous year in the export international traffic unfolded in the intermodal transport units (UTI). There has been registered an increase with 11.62% of the activity volume (in 2001 have been transported in this system 612,073 tones of goods, in comparison with only 548,330 tones, in year 2000). With regard to the import process has been achieved an increase of the number of UTI trains with 8%.
At this chapter the intemodal transport - for year 2002 the National Company for the Railway Freight Transport "CFR Marfa" SA proposes the achievement of a complete train section (UTI). This is represented by Regensburg (Germany) - Halkali (Turkey), Wels (Austria) - Bradu de Sus, Bucharest Sud - Praga Ziskov (Czech Republic) route. There is also a railway section Glogovat Wels meat for RO-LA type trains.
Also, in parallel with the maintenance and the development of the ferryboat line Constanta - Derince (Turkey), since August 5, 2001 CFR Marfa SA has also resumed the traffic on Constanta Batumi (Georgia) section. Thus, they have up dated the famous Way of Silk, as it was named before the former route, which linked Asia to Europe. Due to the advantages of the scientific and technical researches of the beginning of the XXIst century, the former Way of Silk has all the chances to regain its formerly importance (and also the fame!). It will become one of the most modern and more efficient ways of the Euro-Asian communications, and in the same time, a major logistic support for the development of one of the richest regions on the globe.

Always available for their clients

As we have already mentioned, CFR Marfa SA tries to support its clients through the promoted tariff policy, as well as through the provision of a series of facilities, which have the purpose to determine them to choose its services. Among the last mentioned, extremely advantageous are the services provided by the ferry boat transport, namely:
- the wagons that have to be loaded are considered a priority;
- there is neither charged any guarantee, nor an emergency tariff, for making the wagons available for the clients;
- to the drivers and the guides on the road means of transportation are provided accommodation conditions and meals while they are embarked;
- for the TIR trucks, which utilize the ferryboat ships there are provided free of charge transit authorizations on the Romanian territory.
Also, in order to maintain a good unfolding and even a development of the ferryboat section, which makes the link with Georgia, CFR Marfa will continue to take measures in order to solve the general shortcomings caused by the gauge differences that exists between the railway sections on the ferryboat ships and the ones of the railway infrastructure in Batumi Harbor. Also, CFR Marfa SA also participates at the creation of a Romanian - Georgian joint venture, EUROASIA. In the same time, anticipating a possible extension of the action field in the future, in order to stimulate the interest of the clients to choose the railway traffic on this route, in year 2002 the company is going to found a representative office at Baku (Azerbaidjan).
Still, to meet the requirements of the clients, wishing to increase the operability of the services of international freight transport that they perform, on November 1, 2000 SNTFM "CFR Marfa" SA has concluded with the General Department of Customs a Protocol regarding the enforcement of the simplified procedure of transit for the goods transported on the railway. Also, during the last year it has obtained the authorization of the frontier stations and the commercial centers of CFR Marfa as custom commissioner, concomitant with the positions of custom representative.

Improvement of its own endowment

With regard to the rolling stock available for the company, we can say that presently the situation is not quite in accordance with the requirements level: from the total of 95,554 conventional wagons existing in the fleet, the average fleet used daily represents 66.1%, namely 58,768 wagons, reason why there is necessary the continuation of the annulment and disassembling procedures (started in year 2000) for the wagons that are not utilized and have exceeded years of service and an inappropriate technical state.
Simultaneously with this action, in order to maintain the operational fleet of rolling stock at the appropriate technical parameters suited for a good operation, it's in full development stage a large modernization program. In this respect, we have to remind that during the last year the material "dowry" of the company has been enriched through the purchase of 100 wagons Hbbillnss type, on two axels, with gliding walls, wagons that are very demanded on the transport market. This meant for CFR Marfa an important financial effort, the amounts meant for the purchase of the 100 wagons representing more than a half (namely 58%) from the overall value of the funds allocated for the investments. Also, the last year there have been purchased 30 wagons RO-LA type, for the transport of auto-trucks.
Among other achievements worth to be mentioned at this chapter is also enlisted the fact that in year 2001 CFR Marfa has concluded an operational leasing contract, according to which the company exploits the covered wagons, with lateral gliding walls, from aluminum - respectively, 100 wagons on two axles and other 50 wagons, on four axles.
With regard to the modernization program of its own units, among the main objectives aimed we remind: the automation and the provision with IT technology of the marshaling yard stations, the provision with ecology devices for the washing stations for wagons (action was performed only for the equipment that treats the used waters meant for the washing stations in Ghighiu and there have been allocated funds for investments in an amount of 15 billion ROL), the modernization of the frontier stations, the provision with certain necessary endowments having the purpose to achieve the bridge from Calafat etc.
Also, in order to control the quality and the bearing during the exploitation process of the fuels and the lubricants used by the Railways (namely, for the locomotives), in a space belonging to the Bucharest Depot has been founded a central laboratory for physical-chemical determinations, where presently are developed assembling works of the specific devices.
On the other hand, we have to mention that CFR Marfa permanently takes measures in order to respect the current provisions regarding the environment protection, always trying to find new solutions. Thus, wishing to implement an administration system of the waste products, which is based on the results of a research program, there has been proposed the achievement of a project named Specific procedure of administration for waste products, which presently is in the analysis stage.
The launching within Brasov Rail Region of a modern steering-system for the trains traffic through the assisted command by the computer has represented another accomplishment registered by the company within the investments chapter during year 2001.

2002 "Moment"

The finalization of the implementation of the IT technology system for hauling and the purchase of other 20 wagons on two axles with gliding walls, of 34 wagons RO-LA type, as well as of some grease dividers - meant for the sewerage installations in the depots represent the objectives enlisted on the "agenda" of SNTFM "CFR Marfa" SA for the current year there are also stipulated.
With regard to the personnel policy, the permanent orientation existing in this respect at CFR Marfa aims the concern for the improvement of workers professional training, as well as the necessary measures (and also possible) in order to provide to the company personnel appropriate conditions of work and waging. Thus, in the training planning for the current year there is stipulated the training through qualification courses and post-graduation schools of 1,494 workers, whose recruitment is made among the employees of the company, as well as outsiders.
We have also to remind the fact that within the restructuring and reorganization program of SNTFM "CFR Marfa" SA up to the present time there have been founded seven representative offices, which have different fields of activity. But there is more: the process of the identification of the activities which can be transferred to the new-founded representative offices goes on during year 2002, the eventual transfer also implying the transfer of the relevant personnel to the respective representative offices. These reorganization operations of the company represent, as we can say, not only the necessary alignment to the current requirements. Yet, they represent a concrete proof of the fact that, besides the permanent concern for the activity efficiency, in this unit are made permanent efforts in order to provide working places and even to improve the employees' waging.

Taking such measures, the National Company for Railway Freight Transport " CFR Marfa" SA aims the creation of the appropriate conditions for the well development of the entire activity, the increase of the economical efficiency, diversification of a wide range of services offered and the permanent increasing of the service quality. Thus it can prove that in the center of all concerns is situated the heed towards the client and his needs, fact that, mainly, does not represent anything but…the basic principle of the market economy.
As a conclusion, we can appreciate the fact that the measures performed presently within SNTFM "CFR Marfa" SA represent an important sign on the earnestness and the responsibility approached by this company and aim to meet the current and future imperatives of the railway freight transport. This represents a field of activity that trough its role and importance there are great chances to be amplified in the moment when the social-economical life of the country will occur the so expected sudden change in better.

Silvia Mirea