‘Smaller than block trains’-approach and ‘micro-terminals’
Als Grundbausteine der Verkehrswende und Revitalisierung des lokalen Schienengüterverkehrs in einer definierten Region
as basic building blocks for the environmentally driven transition of transport and revitalisation of local rail freight transport in a defined region:
The sustainable shift of transport from road to rail requires not only consideration of large-volume flows from/to ports and conurbations, for example, but also the identification of rail-oriented transport solutions for small volumes across an entire region. The capability to transport individual wagons, groups of wagons and, where necessary, partial loads in the region must be enhanced!
Example of a regional ‘smaller than block train’- system with short pre- and post-carriage distances by road
Task:
For shippers of small and medium volumes, where incoming and outgoing volumes and their procedural requirements preclude the use of the prevailing block train services, almost the only option available in the rail sector today is the classic combined transport. Traditional single wagon transport is becoming increasingly less important, mainly due to incorrect strategic decisions by the incumbent railway undertakings in the past and in the present, resulting in ever shrinking numbers of railsidings and local services.
However, the network of combined transport terminals is – even in Germany - rather sparse, and the resulting long pre- and post-carriage distances by truck usually have as a consequence, that the majority of transports conveniently remain on the road.
The responsible authority was looking for a approach that would offer shippers in its region an economically viable access to the European rail system, especially so in view of the ongoing withdrawal of the state railway from regional single wagon and wagon group transport.
Objective:
Development of a model approach for low-volume traffic flows that can be implemented in a minimally invasive way in a region still able to present a largely existing but underutilised (including ‘non-federal’) rail infrastructure. The shift in transport is intended to promote climate as well as social policy objectives and strengthen the future competitiveness of the regional economy.
Solution approach:
Creation of a range of temporary ‘micro-terminals’ a spart of a holistically controlled, rail-based transport service in the target region, consisting of three basic components:
1. A rudimentary rail/road interface, e.g. an open loading track or a simple loading area, but also rail sidings and railports
and
2. A solution for the (temporary) provision of mobile transhipment services, road pre-carriage and road post-carriage
and last, but not least
3. A regional, reliable and economical rail transport service for individual wagons and wagon groups with connection to long-distance services
The integration of local transport companies and the use of existing rail sidings with spare capacities are an integral part of the concept, as is the central provision of special equipment (e.g. side loaders, mobile roll-off tippers, mobile conveyor belts and excavators, etc.). This, together with the creation of the necessary infrastructure required not only by being provided by the public sector, but by easing up regulatory issues and thus attracting private investments, as well as the development of a system that takes into account the operational and commercial characteristics of a ‘smaller than block train’ rail service, are in themselves relatively complex, highly case-specific sub-projects.
Other components:
Definition of basic operational principles, rules and pricing mechanisms for the commercial and operational management of a local single wagon and wagon group system. Identification of available solutions for mobile transhipment units, which are mobile on public (road)infrastructure and may also cover pre- and post-carriage services and development of deployment concepts for the same.
