Improving the Intermodal Freight Transport System Linking Western Europe with Central and Eastern Europe: Identifying and Prioritizing Policies

Abstract

A major objective of the European Commission (EC) is to strengthen the position of intermodal transport to make it competitive with road transport. In particular, the EC would like to remove obstacles impeding the use of intermodal transport between Western Europe and Central and Eastern European countries. There is a description of work performed for the EC that examined the existing intermodal transport system, identified the major bottlenecks in the system, and identified and prioritized policies that the EC might implement for reducing the negative effects of the bottlenecks. Identification and prioritization of bottlenecks are described. Through desk research and surveys of forwarders, terminal operators, and link operators, 35 groups of bottlenecks were identified. They were prioritized with a set of 11 performance criteria determined on the basis of surveys. Also, identification and prioritization of policies are described. One or more policies were identified to help solve each of the bottlenecks. The resulting set of 70 policies was evaluated and prioritized by experts by using 6 performance criteria and 5 feasibility criteria. A final set of 7 policies for reducing the negative effects of the most important bottlenecks was recommended to the EC.