Intermodal can double the share of rail freight transport in the EU

The demand for land freight transport in Europe will increase by 51% by 2050, and long-distance rail freight transport can reach a share of 44% by increasing the use of intermodal techniques, according to the Roadmap to Zero Carbon Combined Transport 2050 study, presented, yesterday, by the consulting firm d-fine and made for the International Union for Combined Rail and Road Transport (UIRR).

Combined transport should increase its performance by 5% year on year over the next 3 decades, according to the Roadmap to Zero Carbonn Combined Transport 2050 study . In fact, this type of door-to-door transport without carbon dioxide emissions could be the cheapest and simplest solution for achieving the objectives of decarbonisation, energy efficiency and energy decoupling of the European Union, says the quoted source. The condition is that the TEN-T technical parameters proposed by the European Commission be implemented on the railway network, and the blockages already identified be removed.

300 new intermodal terminals

The total cost is estimated at 490 billion euros over a period of 30 years, i.e. 16.3 billion euros per year. In addition, by 2050, each year EUR 1.6 billion of capital should be allocated to the development of the network of intermodal assets. Currently, there are 850 intermodal terminals in Europe, of which 230 are on the main railway network, and 20% of the total number have access restrictions. The fleet of intermodal wagons is 65,000 units, out of a total of 630,000 wagons. Another 300 new terminals should be built, and the fleet of rolling stock should be expanded to 235,000 intermodal units.

The study published by UIRR shows that rail freight volumes could triple by 2050, from 400 to/km in 2020 to 1,150 to/km/year. Combined transport will grow even faster, by 360% in the next 30 years. Thus, the number of freight trains will double, from 6,100 in 2020, to 13,800 in 2050. And as the number of truck trips will decrease, the modal share of rail transport will increase from 22 to 44%.