Basel-based IMS Rail Switzerland and its 20-strong workforce are to take over the former traffics of ICF West with Rotterdam from February 1, 2011 in a seamless unbroken transfer of responsibility. The logistics and the shipping industry will thus be able to count on an independent operator, not affiliated to the railways, for their container movements with the Dutch port.

At the beginning of January 2011, container operator IMS Intermove Systems Speditions- und Transport GmbH in Vienna agreed to take over the activities of Business Unit West from ICF Intercontainer-Interfrigo SA, a company currently in liquidation.

With effect from 1 February 2011, newly created Basel-based IMS Rail Switzerland AG will start operations. The company is headed by CEO Enrique Rivas and Max Kuske manages the Sales and Marketing division. A manager for the Operations sector will be appointed in the next few days.

In addition to IMS GmbH in Vienna, the Dutch group of companies VeKa Group has now become a shareholder in IMS Rail Switzerland AG. In the context of a diversification, VeKa Group, established in the business of shipbuilding, has taken a commitment in the logistics branch during the last years. The group has a large organisation and a well-established network in the Netherlands, which will have a positive impact on the quality and efficiency on the existing and further intermodal traffics with the Netherlands of IMS Rail Switzerland AG.

IMS Rail Switzerland AG is henceforth to market traffics under the brand name of "Intercontainer", a name well established on the market and synonymous with high quality, reliable intermodal transport.

In the initial stages, IMS Rail Switzerland AG is to offer logistics firms and the shipping industry three shuttle round trips per week between Switzerland and Rotterdam. Traction services are to be provided by a private railway company.

Shuttle trains between the German seaports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven and Switzerland will shortly join the product range.

In the ports, container transhipment to/from rail, quayside transfers and despatches will be coordinated and handled by staff of the own organisation.

For CEO Enrique Rivas, "Since IMS Rail Switzerland AG was founded, the market has sent out a number of positive signals. Our customers welcome the chance of continuity in the business and much appreciate our unique status as the only intermodal operator completely independent of the railways ' including among our shareholders".