Annual reports for European rail freight

The challenge

ERFA was created in Brussels in 2002 by a handful of new rail freight operators, in response to the first European railway package. The association gives voice to newcomers for an open, fair and competitive European rail market. It represents over thirty companies and national associations active across the entire value chain — rail freight companies, wagon owners, freight forwarders, leasing companies, intermodal operators. Annual reports had to carry this positioning as a recognised reference player acknowledged by European institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council, European Railway Agency).

Our approach

Simpl. designed ERFA's annual reports to articulate three dimensions: political advocacy (railway package, capacity, infrastructure charges, TEN-T), market snapshot (market shares of challengers, performance indicators, IRG-Rail monitoring), and associative life (governance, members, events). Visual hierarchy makes dense political and technical content readable for audiences with varied profiles — European decision-makers, rail operators, specialised journalists.

The result

Simpl. delivered to ERFA a series of annual reports that structure the association's advocacy and monitoring activity on the European rail freight market. The materials support engagement with European institutions on capacity, infrastructure and Single European Railway Area workstreams.