The paper was presented at the Polish Logistics Congress “Logistics 2006 – Best Practices in Logistics”. Poznań, May 10-12, 2006.
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Context
<\/strong>Over the last decades, the transport of goods in Europe has increasingly relied on road transport. Rail has seen a decrease in market share, while the value of the overall transport market has grown significantly. Over the next 5-10 years, a further increase in road transport exceeding 50% is likely, considering in particular the expansion of internal markets and the reduction in transport costs caused by the emergence of transport companies offering services at reduced prices. Although a cheap and efficient road transport system supports the development of the European economy, it is a fact that its negative impact on the external environment requires intervention from government authorities at all levels. Excessive traffic leading to road congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and traffic accidents are the most significant negative aspects of road transport. Stimulating and promoting intermodal transport (road-rail and road-water) is an important option aimed at better utilization of transport infrastructure.
Aiming to support the organization of intermodal freight transport, the European Commission has defined a number of actions that:
• promote the creation of entities – organizers of intermodal freight transport (“transport integrators”) offering integrated services;
• improve the interoperability of equipment and infrastructure;
• improve knowledge and experience in managing intermodal transport chains.
The overall goal of these actions, which were described in the “Freight Integrator Action Plan” document, is to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency of intermodal transport chains.
The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission issued a call for tenders for the implementation of a study regarding the implementation of these actions. The contract was awarded to the company ECORYS Transport from the Netherlands, which participated in the tender as part of a consortium of renowned European consulting firms. This study, titled “Integrated Services in the Intermodal Chain” (“ISIC project”), provides all the information necessary for the Commission to successfully prepare and implement these actions. It also provides a “roadmap” for implementing the actions, and policy recommendations take into account the effectiveness and impact of these actions.
The actions included in the project have been grouped into a number of specific tasks:
• Task A: Management and coordination;
• Task B: Improving liability and documentation in intermodal transport;
• Task C: Harmonization of technical requirements for intermodal transport equipment;
• Task D: Improving the quality of intermodal transport terminals;
• Task E: Certification and training in intermodal transport;
• Task F: Promoting intermodal transport;
• Task G: Socio-economic cost-benefit analysis for all actions related to integrated services in the intermodal chain.
The project structure was based on the above tasks, which can thus be seen as different sub-projects.
<\/strong>
Context
<\/strong>Over the last decades, the transport of goods in Europe has increasingly relied on road transport. Rail has seen a decrease in market share, while the value of the overall transport market has grown significantly. Over the next 5-10 years, a further increase in road transport exceeding 50% is likely, considering in particular the expansion of internal markets and the reduction in transport costs caused by the emergence of transport companies offering services at reduced prices. Although a cheap and efficient road transport system supports the development of the European economy, it is a fact that its negative impact on the external environment requires intervention from government authorities at all levels. Excessive traffic leading to road congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and traffic accidents are the most significant negative aspects of road transport. Stimulating and promoting intermodal transport (road-rail and road-water) is an important option aimed at better utilization of transport infrastructure.
Aiming to support the organization of intermodal freight transport, the European Commission has defined a number of actions that:
• promote the creation of entities – organizers of intermodal freight transport (“transport integrators”) offering integrated services;
• improve the interoperability of equipment and infrastructure;
• improve knowledge and experience in managing intermodal transport chains.
The overall goal of these actions, which were described in the “Freight Integrator Action Plan” document, is to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency of intermodal transport chains.
The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission issued a call for tenders for the implementation of a study regarding the implementation of these actions. The contract was awarded to the company ECORYS Transport from the Netherlands, which participated in the tender as part of a consortium of renowned European consulting firms. This study, titled “Integrated Services in the Intermodal Chain” (“ISIC project”), provides all the information necessary for the Commission to successfully prepare and implement these actions. It also provides a “roadmap” for implementing the actions, and policy recommendations take into account the effectiveness and impact of these actions.
The actions included in the project have been grouped into a number of specific tasks:
• Task A: Management and coordination;
• Task B: Improving liability and documentation in intermodal transport;
• Task C: Harmonization of technical requirements for intermodal transport equipment;
• Task D: Improving the quality of intermodal transport terminals;
• Task E: Certification and training in intermodal transport;
• Task F: Promoting intermodal transport;
• Task G: Socio-economic cost-benefit analysis for all actions related to integrated services in the intermodal chain.
The project structure was based on the above tasks, which can thus be seen as different sub-projects.
Objectives
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The main goal of the ISIC project is to provide all the necessary information for the Commission to successfully prepare and implement the actions described in the “Freight Integrator Action Plan” document. This study aims to prepare a “roadmap” facilitating the implementation of the distinguished actions.
Objectives relating to various elements of the actions have been identified:
• presenting practical ways to establish a uniform system of liability rules for intermodal transport and considering how this will be reflected in intermodal transport documentation;
• undertaking any additional research necessary to advise the Commission on policy options regarding the harmonization of technical requirements for semi-trailers in the EU;
• developing quality indicators, quality marks, and a system of criteria for terminal operations and standardizing practices used in terminals as well as equipment and systems;
• presenting appropriate quality standards and training modules;
• investigating the possibility of introducing Intermodal Transport Development Centers in the EU;
• providing cost-benefit analyses for the various actions discussed in the tasks.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Objectives relating to various elements of the actions have been identified:
• presenting practical ways to establish a uniform system of liability rules for intermodal transport and considering how this will be reflected in intermodal transport documentation;
• undertaking any additional research necessary to advise the Commission on policy options regarding the harmonization of technical requirements for semi-trailers in the EU;
• developing quality indicators, quality marks, and a system of criteria for terminal operations and standardizing practices used in terminals as well as equipment and systems;
• presenting appropriate quality standards and training modules;
• investigating the possibility of introducing Intermodal Transport Development Centers in the EU;
• providing cost-benefit analyses for the various actions discussed in the tasks.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Full article in PDF format.
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RefD12vdLande.pdf<\/a>