A pre-study for a new efficient transshipment technology for combined transports

Purpose and goal: The aim of the project has been to - Evaluate new concept for horizontal loading of trailers on railcars. - Investigate how risks and regulations affect testing and implementation of the concept. - Develop a project plan for an appropriately sized full-scale demo pilot.

A comprehensive evaluation of the concept has been carried out and reported. The impact from both risks and the applicability of various regulations have been investigated. Furthermore, the conditions for a suitable FSDP have been analyzed and a project plan developed. The aim has thus been fulfilled.

Expected results and effects:

The starting point for the project has been to validate a promising concept for efficient transshipment in combined transports (road-rail).

The conclusions from the project are that the concept has great advantages, such as low transshipment costs, opportunities to establish smaller terminals along a railway line and transshipment of trailers that cannot be lifted. Furthermore, different levels of demonstrations of the concept have been analyzed and verified. Finally, an executable project plan for a full-scale demo pilot has been produced.

Approach and implementation:

WP1: A thorough review of the market mechanisms and of the various components of the intermodal transport system. Simulations of the effects of the introduction of the Assisted RoRo Transshipment concept in different environments has been carried out. WP 2: Studies of the concept´s applicability in relation to both risks and applicable regulations.

WP 3: Development and demonstration: An analysis & development of the technology was made. In addition, various options for demonstrations have been analyzed and a project plan for a suitable demonstration has been drawn up.