Publication

Sea Change in Rail Freight Practice

2004
Journal Articles

Abstract

During the past ten years, freight transport volume increased by 30 percent in the European Union, whereas road increased by 38 per cent. One can therefore not be very optimistic about rail freight. Not only has rail freight stagnated during that period, but moreover it is loosing important market shares to competitors. As a matter of fact, there has been a regression in absolute volume from 2002 to 2003. Consequently, we must ask ourselves: What the implications and the effects of declining railway freight will be on the logistics industry?

Official source

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2004
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

Related concepts (19)

Rail freight transport

Rail freight transport is the use of railroads and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers. A freight train, cargo train, or goods train is a group of freight cars (US) or goods wagons (International Union of Railways) hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, transporting cargo all or some of the way between the shipper and the intended destination as part of the logistics chain. Trains may haul bulk material, intermodal containers, general freight or specialized freight in purpose-designed cars.

Freight forwarder

A freight forwarder, or forwarding agent, is a person or a company who, for a fee, organizes shipments for the shipper (an individual/party that arranges an item for shipment) by liaising with carriers (an individual/party that transports goods). A forwarder does not move the goods but acts as an agent in the logistics network. The carriers can use a variety of shipping modes, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads, and often use multiple modes for a single shipment.

Road

A road is a thoroughfare for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, whose primary function is to serve as public spaces, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of roads, including parkways, avenues, controlled-access highways (freeways, motorways, and expressways), tollways, interstates, highways, thoroughfares, and local roads.