Rail transport is particularly predestined to take over the function of handling transport flows of cargo on a continental scale, as well as in transcontinental relations. Rail transport is seen as a provider of economic, social, and environmental goals related to meeting transport needs. The purpose of this article is to present the market conditions for the development of one of the rail operators, namely PKP LHS Sp. z o.o., as an entity predisposed to participate in the handling of global supply chains.
According to point 29 of the Presidency conclusions from the Gothenburg meeting, the European Council stated that a sustainable transport policy should counteract the increase in the number of road users and the level of traffic congestion, noise, and environmental pollution, as well as encourage the use of environmentally friendly modes of transport and the full internalization of social and environmental costs. In essence, this means placing greater emphasis on the development of the rail sector, both in the area of conventional rail, while ensuring interoperability and intermodality.
The interoperability and intermodality of rail transport are becoming essential parameters for its participation in supply chain management. Modern chains are understood as networks in supply chain management globally: ● in the EU, the average technical speed of rail is 18 km/h in international transport, and the share in the freight market is around 12% ● in the USA, the average operational speed is 55 km/h, and the share of rail in the freight market is around 42%. Such significant disparities indicate that there are significant barriers in European rail systems resulting in a decline in the attractiveness of these transports in supply chains. (…)
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Source: Logistyka Magazine 4/2010
Rail transport in supply chain management – PDF file for download