RAlpin Ltd.
RAlpin Ltd., based in Olten, operates on behalf of the Federation of the Rolling Highway (Rola) through the Swiss Alps. Since 2001 it has transported about 800,000 trucks through Switzerland and it makes an important contribution to the shift from road to rail.
Rola runs several times daily between Freiburg im Breisgau (D) and Novara (I) and once a daytime from Basel to Lugano. It provides safe and economical travel during the day and at night. Our customers have no stress or traffic jams when driving through Switzerland and they enjoy nine hours' rest. This protects both drivers’ nerves and the environment.
History
1981
As a forerunner to the rolling highway through the Lötschberg, Hupac launches a roll-on roll-off service between Freiburg im Breisgau and Milan Greco Pirelli in 1981. Further connections from Basel and Rielasingen (later Singen) to Lugano-Vedeggio and terminals in the Milan area follow. Hupac still operates rolling highway services from Basel to Lugano and from Singen to Milan today.
In several ballots, the Swiss parliament and the Swiss voters opt for the transfer of Alpine-crossing traffic from road to rail and decide on the following projects to expand the railway infrastructure:
2.5.1992
Transit agreement between Switzerland and the EU to improve cooperation on heavy goods traffic, and in particular transalpine transit traffic.
27.9.1992
The Swiss Federation enacts legislation to build the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) with the Lötschberg-Simplon and Gotthard tunnels.
20.2.1994
Article on the protection of the Alps demanding that transalpine freight be carried by rail from border to border.
1998
In March 1998 the Swiss Federal Ministry for Transport issues an invitation to tender for the operation of rolling highway services between Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) and Novara (Italy) on the Lötschberg-Simplon axis over a distance of 414 kilometres. The rail track on bridges, tunnels and within railway stations is adapted so that road vehicles up to four meters high can be carried piggy-back on low-floor trains all along this corridor.
27.9.1998
Federal law on the heavy vehicle fee (HVF): a fee to be levied on trucks weighing more than 3.5 t and calculated according to the weight of the vehicle and the distance driven.
29.11.1998
Federal decree on the building and financing of infrastructure projects for public transport (FinöV) including Train 2000, NRLA, links to the European high-speed railway network and noise abatement measures.
27.05.1999
RAlpin, still a joint venture of BLS/SBB/HUPAC at the time, is awarded the contract by the Swiss Federal Ministry of Transport to operate the Lötschberg-Simplon rolling highway.
8.10.1999
The law on the transfer of traffic is passed, effective 1 January 2001. It governs the compensation – to the order of CHF 2.85 billion – to be paid to the railways for providing unaccompanied and accompanied combined transport services over the period of 2000—2010.
4.4.2001
BLS Lötschbergbahn AG, Hupac SA and SBB Cargo AG found the company RAlpin AG in Berne.
11.6.2001
The first RAlpin train takes to the rails.
2002
Trenitalia SpA joins RAlpin AG as a shareholder.
1.2.2002
Switzerland signs a treaty on land-based transport with the EU.
2006
For the first time RAlpin transports more than 80,000 trucks per year through Switzerland.
1.6.2006
The board of directors of RAlpin restructures the company and appoints René Dancet as head of the management board, effective June 1 2006. The financial and technical departments are expanded as well. RAlpin continues to receive financial backing from its shareholders and its partners Hupac, BLS and SBB Cargo. On June 1 2006 its headquarters move to Olten.
15.6.2007
Since mid-June 2007 RAlpin trains have been travelling through the new 34.6 kilometer Lötschberg Base Tunnel.
November 2008
Loading of 500 000th truck.
November 2010
Conclusion of the contract with the ministry of transports about the operation of the Rola from 2012 - 2018.
December 2010
Purchase of 20 sleeping cars from SBB POP.
January 2011
Takeover of the relation between Basel and Lugano from Hupac.
Our services
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Contacts
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