About Us

Captrain Portugal S.A., originally called Takargo, appears as the first Portuguese private operator in rail freight transport. It is committed to implement a culture of excellence focused on customer satisfaction, valuing employees, complying with safety rules, and following good environmental practices.

Mission

Operate and boost rail freight transport in the Iberian Peninsula by offering innovative services, contributing to an improvement in service quality, environmental sustainability, and the promotion of a culture of safety, increasing national competitiveness.

Vision

To be the leader in rail freight in the Iberian market, providing innovative services in an integrated perspective of transport, minimizing environmental impacts, and guaranteeing the reliability, quality, and safety of all operations.

Values

There is a set of values ​​in which we believe and which we rely on when making decisions:

    • Quality of our services;
    • Trusted relationships with Customers and Partners;
    • Efficiency of our activity;
    • Service innovation
    • Promotion of a positive safety culture;
    • Development of our activities sustainably;
    • Team spirit among employees, customers, and partners.
Transport Captrain

Our 2023 key figures

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Tons transported
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Kms travelled in Portugal
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Kms in the Iberian Peninsula

Policy

Captrain Portugal's Quality, Environment and Safety Policy was established taking into account: the organization's purpose and context, its mission and values and the group's requirements and principles, namely, the Safety Policy established by Rail Logistics Europe for all subsidiary companies.

Takargo, along with the other companies in the group, share the best practices and learning among them for the benefit of everyone's safety. The company adopts a constructive posture of transparency and dialogue with third parties about its policy and results.

It should be noted that Captrain Portugal subscribed to the Railway Safety Culture Declaration of the European Union Railway Agency (ERA). Thus, the commitments of this declaration are also inputs in the establishment of its policy and in the development of the rail safety strategy and objectives.

QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY POLICY

Captrain is committed to implementing a culture of excellence centered on customer satisfaction, valuing employees, promoting a positive safety culture at the level of its railway operations, and implementing good environmental and occupational safety and health practices.

The principle of continuous improvement and sustainable development are always present in the activities promoted by Captrain, thus committing itself:

  • Ensure customer satisfaction, looking for solutions to offer services in accordance with agreed requirements to grant their trust and loyalty.
  • Create value for Shareholders by meeting their expectations.
  • Promote employees’ training ensuring the necessary skills to grant the proper transport of customers' goods.
  • Provide adequate investment to ensure the safety conditions of equipment and workplaces and to reduce the probability of safety hazards.
  • Control the risks associated with railway operations arising from its own activities and those carried out by third parties, developing measures aimed at meeting the common objectives of railway safety.
  • Protect the environment, minimizing the environmental impacts associated with Captrain's activities, namely through the efficient use of resources and the prevention of pollution.
  • Identify and whenever possible eliminate hazards and reduce risks providing adequate healthy and safe working conditions in order to prevent work accidents and damage to health.
  • Promote employees partake providing access to clear information and providing adequate mechanisms for their participation.
  • Promote a partnership relationship with suppliers, in order to ensure the continuous improvement of the service provided.
  • Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements.
  • Continuously improve the effectiveness of its Quality, Environment and Safety Management System, namely through internal audits and monitoring of established indicators.
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Regarding railway safety, Captrain Portugal also follows the principles established by Rail Logistics Europe, inspired by the values of the SNCF:

The safety of our staff, our subcontractors, our customers and the goods they entrust to us is part of Rail Logistics Europe's identity, inspired by SNCF values; it is our absolute priority.

We are committed to promoting the safety culture described in the European Railway Agency's joint declaration. Our ambition and our commitments in terms of safety policy are part of a process of transformation of the safety culture inspired by the SNCF "PRISME" program around 6 axes:

1) Developing a proactive behavior, each agent contributing to the system of continuous improvement of safety by reporting to his manager all the incidents and precursory elements of which he has knowledge. The right to speak up is ours. We anticipate through research and analysis of the root causes of incidents and precursor events. We systematically apply the Fair and Equitable approach in the analysis of events and the treatment of discrepancies. We value good practices.

2) Setting up a risk analysis system to prioritize actions and focus energies. Each entity implements a continuous improvement system based on the analysis of risk situations, indicators, controls, audits and feedback. Any development project or change affecting safety, or any product or service launch, is subject to a prior risk assessment.

3) Controlling the interfaces between the entities that make up today's rail freight system in its local, national and European dimensions. At all levels of the hierarchy, each agent knows his or her area of responsibility and place in the safety organization. We set up the necessary cooperation and work towards the overall efficiency of safety management. Our partners and subcontractors apply the standards and rules enabling them to meet the requirements of the Rail Logistics Europe safety policy.

4) Simplifying as much as necessary the procedures and documentation that we make available to each agent. Each agent must understand the meaning of the security procedures that he or she applies and shares with others. Procedures are adapted to the field to facilitate their implementation. Access to information by operational staff is facilitated by digital tools. These security procedures are updated as part of a continuous improvement process.

5) Creating the managerial conditions so that each agent is personally involved in his or her actions and decisions, and at his or her own level of responsibility, to reduce risk as much as possible, i.e., the frequency and severity of accident situations. In order to carry out their work, we provide each agent with safe processes, an adequate level of training to acquire the appropriate skills and a supportive management structure.

6) Providing ourselves with innovative digital tools and equipment to give each agent a secure work environment and technological means. This concerns the work environment and the analysis tools that enable effective safety management

This policy applies to our rail activities. It deals with the safety of Freight rail operations, the health and safety of our employees and our subcontractors, the protection of the environment, safety and cyber security. It defines the framework for the actions we promote and implement to optimize safety throughout the rail production process.

This policy is available to all interested parties, so that they are aware of Captrain's commitments and thus can contribute to their success. Employees are made aware of the importance of knowing and meeting the principles established in this policy.

Certificates

SGQAS NP ISO 9001:2015 Certificate

NP ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system, allowing organizations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide services that satisfy both customer requirements and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as increasing the customer satisfaction through effective application of the system.

SGQAS NP ISO 14001:2015 Certificate

NP ISO 14001 specifies requirements for an environmental management system providing organizations with a framework to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions, in balance with socio-economic needs. This standard allows organizations to achieve the intended results of their environmental management system, which provide added value for the environment, for the organization itself and for interested parties.

SGQAS NP ISO 45001:2019 Certificate

NP ISO 45001 specifies requirements for an occupational safety and health (OSH) management system, enabling organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces, through the prevention of work-related injuries and health conditions, as well as through of proactively improving OSH performance.

ERM Certificate

The certification system for entities responsible for the maintenance of railway vehicles, in accordance with European Directive 2016/798 and Implementing Regulation 2019/779, provides entities with the management of its vehicles maintenance activities and the performance of technical maintenance functions, by their own means or through contracts with third parties. Captrian Portugal is certified as an Entity Responsible for the Maintenance (ERM) of its wagons and locomotives.

 

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Training Entity Certificate

In accordance with legal regulations, the certification of entities that carry out the activity of initial, continuous, and specific training of train drivers is mandatory. Captrain Portugal is an IMT I.P. certified training entity since May 2021.

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Portuguese and Spanish Railway Safety Certificate

The safety management system (SMS), in accordance with Directive 2004/49/EC on railway safety, is based on a structured approach that allows the identification of hazards and the continuous management of risks associated with the activities of the railway undertaking to prevent accidents, ensuring that it achieves its business objectives safely. The proper application of an SMS by railway undertakings is a fundamental element for the success of the entire safety regulatory framework provided in the Railway Safety Directive, as it constitutes the basis used by the National Safety Authorities of the European Union for the issuance of safety certificates.

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Great Place to Work ® Certificate

Captrain Portugal, S.A. is proud to be certified by Great Place To Work® for the 1st year. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Captrain Portugal.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.

Licenses

License to Operate Rail Freight Services

The License for Operating Rail Freight services is the authorization for access to the activity of providing rail transport services appropriate to the type of service to be performed and is issued by the National Security Authorities of the European Union. Companies operating on the railway network, in addition to the requirement to have the appropriate licensing, must hold a safety certificate.

Captrain Portugal's License issued by the IMT I.P. concerns the operation of rail freight services.

Sustainability

CO2 emissions

Captrain Portugal annually calculates the CO2 emission of the rail freight activity, analysing the contribution of the rail sector in reducing CO2 emissions compared to road transport.

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Our History

Captrain Portugal history begins at the end of 2006, originally called Takargo, continuing the business diversification strategy of the Mota-Engil Group, and becoming the first Portuguese private rail freight transport operator.

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Cool Timeline

2006
Start
Takargo becomes the first Portuguese private rail freight operator.

2008
Certificate
Obtaining the safety certificate, enabling Takargo as a national railway operator.

Start of the first operation
2009
First international train
In association with a Spanish rail operator, Takargo carried out the first international train to Zaragoza.

2014
Certification
Conclusion of the process of defining and implementing a Quality, Environment and Safety Management System in accordance with NP EN ISO 9001, NP EN ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

Entity responsible for maintenance
Takargo is certified by Belgorail as the entity responsible for the maintenance (ERM) of its wagons, in accordance with Regulation 445/2011.

2020
ISO 45001
Migration to the ISO 45001 standard – Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

2021
Training entity
Takargo officially becomes the first training entity for train drivers of initial and continuous training courses, and of specific training for the registration of complementary certificates, in accordance with the rules established by the 16/2020 law, certified by the IMT.

2022
Takargo’s acquisition intention by SNCF Group
The SNCF group announced in March 2022 the project to acquire Takargo, confirming its willingness to continue to promote rail freight in Europe and to accelerate modal shift

ERM Certification Extension to Locomotives
Takargo extends its certification as an entity responsible for maintenance (ERM) to its locomotives. Certification according to Regulation 2019/779 amended by Regulation 2020/780.

Acquisition of Takargo
Following-up on the Competition Authority’s approval, the SNCF Group confirms the acquisition of Takargo.

2023
RENEWAL OF THE SINGLE SECURITY CERTIFICATE
Takargo’s new unique safety certificate has been issued by the European Union Railway Agency (ERA), which confirms ERA’s acceptance of the safety management system (SGS).

2024
Takargo becomes Captrain Portugal S.A.
With the aim of reinforcing our identity and our positioning in the market, from January 1st, 2024, Takargo will become Captrain Portugal S.A., completing this transition with the change of its image.