Web platform launched to accelerate freight modal shift to rail
08.10.2025 | The European Shift Enabler Portal for Freight project has been completed with the launch of a website designed to make intermodal rail freight more accessible, transparent and competitive across Europe.
At the heart of intermodal-railfreight.eu is an interactive map showing intermodal terminals to help users to plan routes primarily by rail, with the option to integrate available barge connections.
Road transport is considered only for first and last-mile links.
The platform aims to offer logistics providers, shippers, terminal operators, authorities and researchers practical tools to identify greener and more efficient freight transport options.
Features include:
- Interactive Map & Terminal Info: explore and filter terminals, view details and plan routes;
- Terminal Comparison: compare up to six terminals by services, equipment and loading units;
- Schedules: access rail and barge timetables to optimise planning;
- Route Planning with External Cost Estimation: calculate and compare multimodal routes by time, distance, and environmental impact.
- Stakeholders’ Directory: searchable database of intermodal actors across Europe for easy matchmaking;
- Contract Toolbox: access harmonised legal documents and templates for intermodal logistics;
- Corridors & Traffic Flows: visualise TEN-T rail corridors, infrastructure characteristics and freight volumes;
- Smart Contract Demo: proof of concept using eFTI and blockchain to digitalise and harmonise freight contracts.
The €1·3m ESEP4Freight project funded by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking and co-ordinated by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm brought together nine partners from five countries, including combined transport association UIRR.