Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe

This paper describes how freight transport has been on the rise throughout Europe during the past few decades for a few well-know reasons. These reasons are: economic growth in many countries, market globalization underpinned by trade liberalization that allows economies of scale, technological progress and production specialization that also led to economies of scale, the development of central distribution centers as “hubs” that relay the global production process and organize the spatial distribution over large areas and, finally, the relatively low cost of transport in the organization of production and distribution. The strong growth in freight transport is putting such a strain on the various modal networks, particularly on rail and road networks, that at certain points their capacity is no longer adequate. This is why the main concern should not be the promotion intermodality as such but the substitution as much as possible of alternative solutions using railways, inland waterways and short sea-shipping in place of road transport. Thus, an examination of the separate statistics of the modes already provides substantial food for thought in the field. This paper assembles these general statistics as well as whatever is available about intermodal transport. Altogether, the paper provides a good view on the present situation of freight transport in Europe and the challenges that must be met in the future. For the paper to be complete, it also gives some information about the present situation of air-freight transport in Europe. In most cases, air freight is first transport by road to the airport, and afterwards, unloaded on to trucks to reach the final destination. In that sense, air transport participates in intermodal transport solutions, much like rail and inland water transports. However, the corresponding road transport is better characterized as simple distribution operations within Europe rather than as intermodal transport. Distances involved are often too small within Europe to justify real intermodal solutions with air transport.

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  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.e-elgar-environment.com/Bookentry_Main.lasso?id=3927
• Corporate Authors:

  Edward Elgar Publishers

  William Pratt House, 9 Dewey Court
  Northampton, MA  United States  01060-3815
• Authors:
  • Beuthe, Michel
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 54-99
• Monograph Title: Globalized Freight Transport: Intermodality, E-Commerce, Logistics and Sustainability

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cargo; Distribution support businesses; Freight traffic; Freight trains; Freight transportation; Globalization; Inland water transportation; Intermodal terminals; Intermodal transportation; Production; Short sea shipping
• Uncontrolled Terms: Liberalization; Underpinning
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Society; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051467
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 978184542502p
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2007 3:14PM