STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC INFLUENCE OF CONTAINERIZATION ON TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

ETUDE DE L'INFLUENCE ECONOMIQUE DE LA CONTENEURISATION SUR L'EXPLOITATION DES TRANSPORTS

An account of the 21st Session of Round Table Discussions of the ECMT which was held in Paris on 1-2 February 1973. The report by Mr. Stewart Joy, Chief Economist of the British Railways Board, describes the historical background of the British Freightliner system and explains the problems raised by its creation in Great Britain. The report contains: the definition of the network covered by these services; the conditions governing profitability; the aim and the need for being linked to the National Freight Corporation, which holds 51 percent of its capital, and to the BRB (49 percent of its capital); extension of its activities to sea transport and service to ports; the influence of this type of traffic on transport by complete wagon loads. Mr S. Joy was instructed by the Secretary General of the ECMT to draw lessons from this experience with a view to setting up a container service in Western Europe. He examines the differences between the British example and the latter, as well as Intercontainer's advantages and drawbacks. In the second section, the author summarises the discussion and states the conclusions reached. Stress is laid on vulnerability to competition from conventional traffic by complete wagon loads, the difficulties resulting from the existence of independent Railways in continental Europe, the hesitation on the part of these Railways to envisage a really integrated service by complete trains of containers, the continued investment in marshalling yards, and the need for a new approach involving an analysis of the market by segments and in terms of quality as well as quantity.

• Corporate Authors:

  European Conference of Ministers of Transport

  19, rue de Franqueville
  75775 Paris Cedex 16,   France 
• Authors:
  • Joy, S
• Publication Date: 1974

Language

• French

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 90 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Containerization; Intermodal facilities; Intermodal transportation; International trade; Profitability; Railroads
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Old TRIS Terms: Freightliners; Intermodal operations; Profitability measurement
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00095201
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Railway Documentation, Selection of
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1975 12:00AM