intermodal solutions for transalpine freight traffic - Alpine Space ...

3 develoPIng CombIned TransPorT soluTIons (*)
3.1 Facing the Future alpine crossing transport –
aims, approaches, methods
3.1.1 Problem statement
Since earlier times transport crossing the
Alps has changed tremendously. The exchange
of goods, persons and services was
concentrated more and more to the main transport
transit axes. The Alpine Space is reacting
very sensitive to the influences of raising transport
volumes crossing the Alps. The specific
topographical and climatic situations in the narrow
alpine valleys sharpen negative effects of
traffic. The quality of life for people living along
these corridors is suffering more and more from
congestions, land consumption as well as air
and noise pollution.
Based on different former projects raised
under the framework of the Alpine Space Programme
we know very well about the situations
and conditions of alpine crossing transport. In
whole Europe traffic is rising; especially growth
in freight transport reached an enormous level.
Although the global economic crisis caused a
decrease of transport flows, the negative effects
of freight traffic remain present. And almost all
prognoses are assuming further growth in the
future. Between 1994 and 2007 the transit volumes
over the entire Alpine Arc almost doubled
from 65 to 119 billion tonnes. (1) Roads crossing
and heading the Alps are not able to fulfil the
needs of growing transport demands.
The modal split is in favour of the road
(e. g. 71% for 2007 on the Brenner Axis) which
means that the majority of the existing traffic is
still running on the road. Reasons for that are:
the rail is not attractive enough, existing rail
products are not suitable (wrong connection,
wrong system) nor sufficient (no capacities),
the intermodal system is not easily accessible
and intermodal nodes with sufficient capacities
are missing (e.g. fewer terminals in Southern
Germany than in Northern Italy).
The different arguments mentioned in regard
to the transport of goods crossing the Alps and
brought into discussion by stakeholders show
mainly the price as most important. After different
bilateral meetings, workshops and conferences
with stakeholders, loaders, shippers and
forwarders organised within TRANSITECTS a
clear picture of price-building processes in Alpine
crossing transport can be drawn. Especially
prices for road transport are often such low
that railway transport hardly gets the chance to
compete. Political pressure on road transport
sector fostering pricing policies to cause shifts
to rail does not exist in needed level.
* The contents presented in this chapter have been elaborated in work packages 4 and 5. Generally responsible
for contents, illustrations and texts are the TRANSITECTS project partners “Regional Association Donau-Iller”
(chapter 3.1-3.2) and “A.L.O.T. – Agency for Transport and Logistics of the East Lombardy region” (chapter 3.3-
3.5). Project partners who elaborated the single pilot train concepts (see abbreviations in headlines) delivered
substantial input concerning their trains.
1 http://www.zuerich-prozess.org
DEVELOPING COMBINED TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS
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Source: Matthias Wagner