849954 sisus

(because often imbalance in container transportation between short leg and
dominant leg).
Some earlier studies clearly indicate that the use of some specified dimensions
in characterising more adequately the organisational behaviour of a common
carrier can be an appropriate starting point for more detailed analysis (see e.g.
Aastrup 2003, Nikkanen 2003b). With respect to a railcarrier (VR Cargo as a
railway operator in the Finnish railway system), it can be suggested that the role
is an outcome of the focal firm’s own decision-making and the intentions incorporated
into them, or there are external constraints, which force the common
carriers for a certain position in the IFT networks (Nikkanen 2004,528-529). Own
decision-making and intentions mean e.g. that there is robust manifestation from
the top management that the common carrier’s role is of strategical importance,
particularly prior to deregulation of the railway business. Thus, VR Cargo aims at
being open for a substantially great number of IFT network members, and willing
to deepen the collaboration; all accounts are intended to be equal in terms of
customer satisfaction. A regards external constraints, VR Cargo is still a sole
operator in railway business and its operations are subject to public surveillance.
This requires a well-established cost analysis scheme in order to reduce the potential
belief that the company could exploit unilaterally or abuse its official status
(Nikkanen 2003b, 146-151). In liner cargo the market conditions are a bit different:
fierce rivalry between the operators and the customers’ (shippers, consignees,
forwarders) expectations have a stronger influence.
Empirical Verification and Methods
In this study two companies - VR Cargo and Finnlines – represent rail transportation
and liner shipping industry, respectively. As regards the operational Intermodal
Freight Transportation in Finland, the movement of unitised goods by rail
is performed by VR Cargo, which is a strategic business unit of the VR Group.
As the focal actor of the study, VR Cargo is engaged in both international and
domestic traffic; e.g. the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) connection as a block
train service is offered jointly by several operators. As such, TSR service combines
appropriately two continental markets, Europe and Asia. The focal company
still holds the position of being a sole operator in rail-based intermodal
business. There are, however, some plans to reject the government-erected
monopoly and to open the markets (and network) for freer market penetration.
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