One of the fundamental conditions for effective trade exchange is the creation of transport and communication hubs, where goods are concentrated and distributed for more efficient transport between producers, trade, and consumers within a logistics transport hub. Hubs, which are defined as logistics centers, will in the future (according to EU transport policy) form the basic points of the intermodal transport network and the communication backbone for freight and information flows in Europe and the world. An important component of the aforementioned hubs are intermodal transport terminals, where a change in the mode of transport occurs, and transport between them is carried out by high-quality intermodal transport trains.
The Combined Transport Department of the Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications of the SR (MDPT SR) developed the Concept for the Development of Combined Transport until 2010 (hereinafter referred to as the Concept), which was approved by Government Resolution No. 37/2001 of January 17, 2001. The Concept defines, among other things, the potential of combined transport (which is a special type of intermodal transport) and the proposed routing of lines and infrastructure for combined transport to secure the proposed scope of combined transport lines. It also designs the optimal location of terminals and their equipment, the number of railway wagons, combined transport freight units, and their road carriers. During the approval process, the Government of the SR approved the aforementioned Concept with limited financial security.
Despite limited financial support for infrastructure, intermodal transport has been developing dynamically since 1995, being an environmentally friendly branch of transport in the SR with an average annual growth in the amount of transported goods of 19% (see Chart 1), which was the highest among the V4 countries (Visegrád Group – ed. note) during the observed period. The share of intermodal transport in exports and imports is gradually increasing. Further development of intermodal transport in the Slovak Republic is mainly hindered by unsatisfactory infrastructure of container transshipment stations. Therefore, it is necessary – due to the expected rapid development of the country’s economy – to create conditions for the accelerated completion of intermodal transport infrastructure.
Until the SR’s accession to the EU, support for the development of intermodal transport infrastructure came mainly from the initiative of the Combined Transport Department of the MDPT of the Slovak Republic and was implemented within the scope of the state’s limited financial capabilities. Slovakia’s accession to the EU enabled participation in European funds supporting transport infrastructure. Within the scope of the preliminary PHARE and ISPA program funds, important parts of road and rail infrastructure were prioritized for co-financing. Within the scope of the cited programs, no projects for the implementation of intermodal transport infrastructure were included up to and including 2004.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 6/2006.