Development of sustainable high freqvency intermodal transport systems for short lead time goods

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project was to create a concept for an intermodal transport system for Time Sensitive Low Density High Value (TSLDHV) goods where choices of transport modes were optimized from an energy consumption and a cost standpoint. One aim was to at simulations use collected goods flow data that had been supplemented with flow data from Norway. One goal was to even analyze which led temporal adjustments should be done in the intermodal systems to enable a synchronization of the shipper´s part of the time requirements with the intermodal system conditions regarding to lead times.

Expected long term effects

Data for 17.5 million tonnes/year of TSLDHV goods were collected and generated. Between Malmö and Stockholm the goods that could be transported intermodal amounted 16.3 million tonnes/year of which 12.2 million tonnes/year was Northbound. With an intermediate stop for transshipment of load units the goods amount was indicated to increase by 30 % and with 3 stops by 50 %. In an attempted intermodal system with 9 train lines that connected 16 terminals 27 % of the analyzed goods amount was allocated, on the intermodal system. This was expected to halve energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Approach and implementation

The project has had a character of an iterative process where flows were analyzed on the basis of a model for flow differentiation and simulation of transport solutions which was further developed in the project. The work began with an exploratory approach in which problems were dealt with from different viewpoints. A quantitative part included collection and analysis of flow data that was supplemented with quantitative efforts in the form of interviews. With the model has intermodal transport solutions been simulated and compared with other solutions, such as direct road transports.