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Intermodal transport not only changes the traditional mode of cargo transport, hut also builds an efficient and intelligent logistics system. At present, there is a problem of low efficiency of intermodal transport in China, and the development of intermodal transport lacks a clear direction. In order to further strengthen the objective understanding and quantitative evaluation of the development level of intermodal transport in China, and to comprehensively consider factors such as data availability and data quality, in order to improve the efficiency of intermodal transport, the connotation requirements of intermodal transport were analyzed in depth firstly. Then, an intermodal transport development index system composed of 11 specific indicators in four aspects was established in this paper, including service capacity, service quality, organizational efficiency and comprehensive benefits. After data normalization, the intermodal transport development index was constructed by combining Analytic Hierarchy Process and Entropy Weight Method. Then, the first batch of national intermodal transport demonstration projects were taken as an example, and the intermodal transport key enterprise filling system was used to collect and process data. At last, the intermodal transport development index of each project was calculated and suggestions were made accordingly. The intermodal transport development index shows that the national intermodal transport demonstration projects in the southeast coastal areas of China have good results, and the construction of the national intermodal transport demonstration projects in inland areas still needs to be further strengthened. In summary, the development level of the national intermodal transport demonstration projects could be truly and effectively reflected by the intermodal transport development index, which has a good guiding effect on promoting the development of intermodal transport in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermodality is regarded as one way of achieving more sustainable transport solutions. To make intermodal transport the preferred solution among shippers, it must be attractive according to the concept of generalized transport costs. An extended model for generalized transport costs is developed which includes elements important for comparing maritime transport solutions in the Artic. This framework forms the basis for a principal discussion on the conditions that make one transport solution preferable to another within the context of maritime logistics. This model is then applied to the context of the Northeast Passage to discuss the necessary requirements for making an intermodal transport solution attractive relative to the current main route from Northeast Asia to Northwest Europe through the Suez Canal. Even though intermodality could be preferable in principle, current solutions cannot compete with either Arctic routes using unimodal solutions with high ice-class vessels or with the Suez route. Due to uncertainty and limited empirical evidence, a sensitivity analysis is conducted, focusing on the variables with the greatest impact on the result. Policymakers and stakeholders can consider the findings to improve transport competitiveness via the Northeast Passage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of today's inland freight transport in Switzerland is operated on the road system. In this study, an innovative agent-based simulation approach is developed to investigate the potential shift from road to rail. In a first step, future freight demand for inland road transport is calculated based on official governmental forecasting tools provided by ARE (Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung, Switzerland). In a second step, the agent-based simulation framework Multi-Agent Transport Simulation (MATSim) is used to investigate different supply concepts and estimate the mode shift effect from "road-only" to "intermodal road and rail transport". The simulated transport supply consists of the road network, the rail network, the cargo rail schedule, and the terminals where containers are loaded from Heavy Goods Vehicles to cargo trains and vice versa. For both, the road and rail system, dynamic queuing effects are explicitly taken into consideration. The illustrative case study for Switzerland reveals that intermodal road/rail transport provides a great potential to reduce road traffic. From the users' point of view, switching from road to intermodal transport yields an average cost reduction of 46%. Even without any optimization of the transit schedule and terminal capacities, a significant trip share of 23% is shifted from road to intermodal transport. Both train and terminal capacities as well as the number of train departures per origin destination relation are limiting factors and have a crucial impact on the demand for intermodal transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of conducting transport processes in the land terminal in the light of COVID-19 pandemic was raised by the authors of this article. The goal of the research was to receive an answer for the question of whether COVID-19 pandemic had real impact on flow of cargos by land handling terminal functioning in Poland. Interview questionnaire, which was distributed among 100 employees in the real object was used during the research. The conclusions from conducted research are surprising because COVID-19 pandemic has not caused more competition between branches and lowering prices of transport services, and lockdown did not cause suspending of activity of the enterprise. It results from the research conducted in the real object and its analysis. COVID-19 pandemic had positive impact on the enterprise, which shows a list of data about the flow of cargos, which has increased during pandemic years in comparison with previous years in the segment of transport of containers, pandemic definitely had impact on interest of the clients in railway transport in the New Silk Road. New Silk Road is an alternative to maritime and air transport from China. Silk Road has also contributed to the development of the terminal. COVID-19 pandemic had positive impact on interest in the services associated with railway transport, that is, customs clearance, cargo handling, storage, last mile transport services.

Abstract Intermodality is regarded as one way of achieving more sustainable transport solutions. To make intermodal transport the preferred solution among shippers, it must be attractive according to the concept of generalized transport costs. An extended model for generalized transport costs is developed which includes elements important for comparing maritime transport solutions in the Artic. This framework forms the basis for a principal discussion on the conditions that make one transport solution preferable to another within the context of maritime logistics. This model is then applied to the context of the Northeast Passage to discuss the necessary requirements for making an intermodal transport solution attractive relative to the current main route from Northeast Asia to Northwest Europe through the Suez Canal. Even though intermodality could be preferable in principle, current solutions cannot compete with either Arctic routes using unimodal solutions with high ice-class vessels or with the Suez route. Due to uncertainty and limited empirical evidence, a sensitivity analysis is conducted, focusing on the variables with the greatest impact on the result. Policymakers and stakeholders can consider the findings to improve transport competitiveness via the Northeast Passage.

The study reviews the essence of inland dry ports (IDPs) in Nigeria and the vital role played by inland transportation as performance-enhancing factor in the mutually complementary services of IDPs and seaports. The study adopts survey research design and used primary and secondary sources of data. Questionnaire and interview were the instruments used for sourcing primary data. Six objectives of the study centre on the problem and the study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine 343 as the sample size, out of study population of 1412. The study uses descriptive statistics and identifies the challenges faced by rail, road and inland waterways modes of transport in the quest to connect them to IDPs in Nigeria from interview, literature review, media reports, port operators and other stakeholders. It identifies the effects of poor port hinterland connectivity, and noted the high-cost element in transporting containers through deplorable roads to IDPs in Nigeria, which is taking its toll on the performance of the IDPs. The study recommends that Government should adopt a holistic national freight logistics strategy, which involves all tiers of government and industry, and make provision for enhanced coordinated national multi-modal and intermodal approaches to freight planning. This would facilitate the reduction of trade costs and enhance the optimization of the performance of inland dry ports in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the impacts of several improvements to urban transport and find that the bus can be made much more attractive by the simultaneous provision of dedicated lanes and higher service frequencies. At the same time, fare reforms, including free public transport, have limited impacts and do not seem to play an important role in reducing the use of the private car. In addition, our analysis considers active modes, bicycles in particular, and shows how they substitute for, or complement, public transport. We find that substitution prevails when public transport is rather accessible by walking (small spacing between the stations), but complementarity arises when the number of stations is small (large spacing between the stations). Our analysis is based on a micro-simulation approach, allowing us to develop a realistic and flexible framework where features like traffic lights, location of the stations, and road crossings for pedestrians are explicitly described.

This research aimed to use a sustainable approach based on the internalisation of external cost analysis of intermodal transportation of freight to assess the impacts of these activities on the environment. This research used two approaches to develop a model that illustrates the internalisation of the external cost of freight transport. The first approach was used to calculate the cost of emissions for each route considering the transportation and its’ cost in the country of destination. The second approach calculated the external cost considering only the distance travelled by the vehicle. The results showed that the companies operating in the selected scenarios would have to pay an additional cost for the transportation of goods. The scenarios had different pollutants emitted during the transportation, which means that the negative impact on human health and the environment is evident. The urgency to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased concerns for all activity sectors. Climate change has drawn the attention of governments, companies, and academics, promoting initiatives that mitigate the impact of their activities. The model for measuring emissions was used due to the need for a comprehensive cost analysis to further assess the impact on the environment. Regarding the internalisation of the external cost emissions, the findings showed that different scenarios had a different pollutant emitted during the transportation, which means that the negative impact for human health and the environment is evident. Findings also indicate that to minimise the impact during the transportation, considering the “user-pays principle”, these impacts should be discussed in more detail between stakeholders.

The transport sector accounts for approximately a quarter of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions, with freight transport alone accounting for about one-third of the overall transport-related emissions. Mitigating the sector's environmental impact is crucial for tackling climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. Modal shift is one of the main solutions to address this challenge; however, many companies have yet to realize its full potential. This paper presents a survey conducted in the Flanders region of Belgium, aiming to identify the challenges and barriers faced by industry players in this key geographical area and to explore the reasons behind the limited implementation of synchromodal transport among them. The survey evaluates the current state of synchromodal transport adoption and offers valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to enhance sustainability in the logistics sector. The findings emphasize that to overcome the identified challenges, both policy support and the companies' commitment are required. Policy support includes establishing consistent regulations and promoting greener transport modes through providing incentives and technological advancements. This research contributes to the field by examining barriers to the adoption of synchromodality and exploring its application within the context of Flanders. By focusing on this strategic logistics hub, the study provides insights and recommendations tailored to the specific challenges of the region's logistics sector. The challenges faced by industry players in Flanders offer a deeper understanding of modal shift dynamics, facilitating informed decision-making for policymakers and industry stakeholders. Implementing these strategies paves the way for more environmentally friendly, efficient, and integrated transport, benefiting both the industry and the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the necessity to realize "building a strong transportation nation", the construction of intermodal transportation is based on the information resource integration of diverse transport systems. To ensure the data security during the interaction between different transport modes, as well as the effect of data application, the status of entities and data flow in the network should be supervised throughout. Therefore, an evaluation framework of comprehensive trust is proposed in this paper. With feature analysis of transportation big data, a quality assessment is conducted by three-dimensional metric sets, which is considered as a significant factor of trust measurement. Furthermore, a hierarchical trust structure is put forward to assess the trust of entities in different levels, in terms of the static and dynamic evidence. Furthermore, the visualization of a dynamic global information security state is discussed, based on temporal knowledge graphs. As shown in practical application and simulation analysis, this framework can meet the requirements of data security supervision and lay the foundation of further intelligent management. This research is of great significance to improve the data security level in intermodal transport, and to promote the utilization and sharing of public information resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail transport (RT) has a significant share in intermodal chains, so intermodal transport (IT) quality largely depends on RT services' quality. On the other side, the quality of these services depends on many infrastructural-technological, organizational and regulatory-institutional factors. The impact of these factors on the service quality and IT is not easy to precisely quantify. Fuzzy systems are a suitable mathematical tool for solving this task, considering that they provide the possibility of imprecise evaluation of variables. In this paper, a fuzzy system-based model for evaluating the impact of RT services' quality on IT quality is defined. Applying it to the example of Serbia, it was established that this influence in this country is neutral/dual.

The sustainability of large economies is one of the most important challenges in today's world. As the world strives to create a greener and more efficient future, it becomes necessary to accurately analyze and forecast freight volumes. By developing a reliable freight transportation forecasting model, the authors will be able to gain valuable insights into the trends and patterns that determine the development of economic systems. This will enable informed decisions on resource allocation, infrastructure development, and environmental impact mitigation. Such a model takes into account various factors such as market demand, logistical capabilities, fuel consumption, and emissions. Understanding these dynamics allows us to optimize supply chains, reduce waste, minimize our carbon footprint, and, ultimately, create more sustainable economic systems. The ability to accurately forecast freight volumes not only benefits businesses by enabling better planning and cost optimization but also contributes to the overall sustainable development goals of society. It can identify opportunities to shift to more sustainable modes of transportation, such as rail or water, and reduce dependence on carbon-intensive modes, such as road or air. In conclusion, the development and implementation of a robust freight forecasting model is critical to the sustainability of large-scale economic systems. Thus, by utilizing data and making informed decisions based on these forecasts, it is possible to work toward a more sustainable future for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient damage detection of trailers is essential for improving processes at inland intermodal terminals. This paper presents an automated damage detection (ADD) algorithm for trailers utilizing ensemble learning based on YOLOv8 and RetinaNet networks. The algorithm achieves 88.33% accuracy and an 81.08% F1-score on the real-life trailer damage dataset by leveraging the strengths of each object detection model. YOLOv8 is trained explicitly for detecting belt damage, while RetinaNet handles detecting other damage types and is used for cropping trailers from images. These one-stage detectors outperformed the two-stage Faster R-CNN in all tested tasks within this research. Furthermore, the algorithm incorporates slice-aided hyper inference, which significantly contributes to the efficient processing of high-resolution trailer images. Integrating the proposed ADD solution into terminal operating systems allows a substantial workload reduction at the ingate of intermodal terminals and supports, therefore, more sustainable transportation solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all the measures already taken and those still underway, pollution remains a major global problem, as the transport sector is the one where emissions are expected to increase in the coming years. Companies and policy makers are under increasing pressure to reduce the impact of their logistics activities in order to make transportation more environmentally friendly. One of the solutions to reduce emissions from intermodal transport is to choose the “right” mode of transport for each step in the transport chain. Such a measure increases the complexity of the transport chain and places an additional burden on transport companies in planning and organising transport for the entire transport chain. Additional difficulties arise from the fragmentation of information on emissions emitted for a single transport link and the lack of a unified approach to measuring and estimating transport chain emissions. As a result, this work finds that there is a lack of knowledge among users about the environmental impacts of transportation, despite the desire to contribute to greener transportation by paying more for a product or transportation service. The current research fills the gap in stakeholders’ understanding of the negative environmental impacts for individual transportation and for the entire transport chain. In addition, the study reveals a need for a systematically regulated and adapted way of informing users of intermodal transport chains due to the lack of transparency and comparison between different intermodal transport chains. To successfully address the challenges, the study proposes a 2-pillar approach. The 1st pillar approach focuses on designing a set of necessary measures (combination of top-down and bottom-up approach) for the transition to a low-carbon transport chain, while the 2nd pillar mainly focuses on mapping the level of green transport for easy comparison of similar products or services. The results of the research study show that the combination of numerical data with symbolic data is best suited to provide information on the level of green transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

an era of increased sustainable transport, the European inland navigation industry has received significant attention to attain sustainable transport. Tremendous opportunities to substantially move freight on waterways are present in the UK; however, several challenges have been appropriately addressed, including infrastructural gaps and various institutional support programs. The paper addresses the UK’s current situation of inland navigation and the key challenges affecting the sectors as a viable alternative transport solution. The article explores and summarises the geographic opportunities, commercial feasibility, and the current condition of the UK’S inland navigation sector. From the practical scenario of the UK’s experience, an attempt was made by the authors to find the critical challenges and issues faced by the industry. The emerging themes from the analysis of this paper indicated governance and leadership issues, cooperation, and coordination mechanism between establishments with various functions and responsibilities, merged with infrastructural investment, are strategic elements for expansion in the UK. Conclusively, the authors presented recommendations for improvement and sustainable development.

The article presents the issues of land intermodal transport, taking into account their impact on the natural environment. The subject of the research is the use of the ELECTRE I method as a decision support tool in the assessment of various variants of transport, taking into account intermodal transport, i.e., transport on the initial and final sections of the route with the use of road transport and transport in the middle longest section by rail transport. This significantly reduces the emission of harmful compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the transport industry. In connection with the above, research on the possibility of choosing transport routes using mixed modes of land transport has been presented. The analyzed transport from point A to destination B considers two reloading operations at the land intermodal terminals. For each of the variants, indicators related to emissions from fuel consumption, the total time and cost of the process, the share of rail transport in the entire process, and the distance of road transport were calculated. The final analysis of the results shows that the following parameters had the most significant impact on the course of the research: the level of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and the total cost of the process for a given variant. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that the variant of transporting cargo from Rybnik to Świdnik with reloading at the PCC Intermodal terminals in Gliwice and the Lublin Container Terminal turned out to be the most advantageous solution.

Despite all the measures already taken and those still underway, pollution remains a major global problem, as the transport sector is the one where emissions are expected to increase in the coming years. Companies and policy makers are under increasing pressure to reduce the impact of their logistics activities in order to make transportation more environmentally friendly. One of the solutions to reduce emissions from intermodal transport is to choose the “right” mode of transport for each step in the transport chain. Such a measure increases the complexity of the transport chain and places an additional burden on transport companies in planning and organising transport for the entire transport chain. Additional difficulties arise from the fragmentation of information on emissions emitted for a single transport link and the lack of a unified approach to measuring and estimating transport chain emissions. As a result, this work finds that there is a lack of knowledge among users about the environmental impacts of transportation, despite the desire to contribute to greener transportation by paying more for a product or transportation service. The current research fills the gap in stakeholders’ understanding of the negative environmental impacts for individual transportation and for the entire transport chain. In addition, the study reveals a need for a systematically regulated and adapted way of informing users of intermodal transport chains due to the lack of transparency and comparison between different intermodal transport chains. To successfully address the challenges, the study proposes a 2-pillar approach. The 1st pillar approach focuses on designing a set of necessary measures (combination of top-down and bottom-up approach) for the transition to a low-carbon transport chain, while the 2nd pillar mainly focuses on mapping the level of green transport for easy comparison of similar products or services. The results of the research study show that the combination of numerical data with symbolic data is best suited to provide information on the level of green transport.

Purpose: One of the most important factors for the development of intermodal transport is the potential of the country and its regions in this respect. The purpose of the article is to assess the potential of the Polish regions for the development of intermodal transport. Design/methodology/approach: In order to achieve the stated purpose of the article, a literature review on the determinants of intermodal transport development was carried out. It allowed to extract a set of key factors influencing the potential of regions for intermodal transport development. On this basis, a synthetic index for the assessment of the region's potential for the development of intermodal transport (IRPIT - Index of the Region's Potential for Intermodal Transport) was developed, based on a taxonomic measure of development in the form of the so-called Hellwig pattern. Findings: In the conducted research, the IRPIT indicator was determined for 16 regions (provinces) of Poland. Recommendations were indicated for provinces with lower levels of the indicator. Originality/value: The article presents a methodology for assessing the potential of Polish regions for the development of intermodal transport. The advantage of the developed indicator is the ability to evaluate regions and their linear order in terms of the analysed potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of high-speed railway (HSR) has opened up new freight capacity on traditional railway (TR) lines in China. In order to increase China’s railway volume of containers transported to port terminals, this paper estimates the HSR and TR modal splits for passenger transport. Then, the TR capacity used for passengers is calculated via traffic assignment model, and the number of passenger trains on TR lines is estimated and then deducted from total TR capacity. The remaining balance gives the freight capacity of a TR line. Moreover, a bi-level programming model is built to optimise the location of railway freight terminals and the corresponding train dispatching frequencies in a case in which trains on TR lines and trucks on highways are both used to transport containers to port terminals. The ports of Shanghai and Ningbo with their hinterlands are used as a case study for numerical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the issues of land intermodal transport, taking into account their impact on the natural environment. The subject of the research is the use of the ELECTRE I method as a decision support tool in the assessment of various variants of transport, taking into account intermodal transport, i.e., transport on the initial and final sections of the route with the use of road transport and transport in the middle longest section by rail transport. This significantly reduces the emission of harmful compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the transport industry. In connection with the above, research on the possibility of choosing transport routes using mixed modes of land transport has been presented. The analyzed transport from point A to destination B considers two reloading operations at the land intermodal terminals. For each of the variants, indicators related to emissions from fuel consumption, the total time and cost of the process, the share of rail transport in the entire process, and the distance of road transport were calculated. The final analysis of the results shows that the following parameters had the most significant impact on the course of the research: the level of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and the total cost of the process for a given variant. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that the variant of transporting cargo from Rybnik to Świdnik with reloading at the PCC Intermodal terminals in Gliwice and the Lublin Container Terminal turned out to be the most advantageous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail transport is one of the branches of transport included in the group of land transport, and its operation is related to the transport of people and cargo by means of rail transport on a specially designated railroad built for this purpose. The article presents the classification of transported cargo in rail transport, the characteristics of the rail transport market in Europe, as well as the results of the analysis of the rail transport volume in Poland in 2010-2021. This analysis included an assessment of the following features: mass of transported cargo, performed transport and operational work, the average distance of cargo transport for a group of cargo transported by rail and the volume of intermodal transport. The obtained results allowed to conclude that the transport of goods by rail is systematically increasing. Moreover, intermodal transport is developing well.

There is a plethora of methods in the global literature that can be used to measure CO2 emissions from electrified transport. But are these methods reliable, and do they offer us a true view of how much exactly of this greenhouse gas is being produced by electric rail transport? We answer this question by proposing an improved CO2 emission estimation model based on cargo transport. Unlike other works, our studies include four crucial steps: (1) estimation of energy consumption in electrified rail cargo transport; (2) estimation of energy losses in the railway traction system and high voltage transmission lines; (3) CO2 emission estimation in traditional powerhouses; and (4) determination of the intensity of the CO2 emissions from electrified rail cargo transport. Based on our method, we concluded that the intensity of CO2 depends not only on the type of fossil fuel used for energy production but also on the parameters of the cargo train, such as its length and weight or the total number of wagon axles (which depend on wagon type). The achieved intensity of CO2 emissions in electrified rail cargo transport slightly varies from those reported in the global literature. Among the most important reasons responsible for this are the conditions under which these tests were conducted. Nevertheless, our results shed new light on how CO2 should be measured. We proved that the decarbonization of electrified rail cargo transport will never be possible without infrastructure modernization. In addition, based on a case study, we also delivered knowledge on how to reduce the environmental impact of electrified rail cargo transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a survey conducted among experts in the field of transport research, from the Baltic Sea region, on the competitiveness of intermodal transport in relation to road transport. The study aimed to identify factors that positively and negatively influence the choice of intermodal transport as an alternative to road transport along the entire transport route. The available literature was reviewed, and attention was paid to the problem of differences in the perception of intermodal transport by experts from different countries. It was also indicated that, depending on the approach to this problem and the local point of view, significantly different results can be obtained regarding the factors influencing the choice of intermodal transport as an alternative to road transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Reduced free time and increased fees for demurrage and detention create organizational challenges with respect to intermodal transport. As a result, actors within the maritime supply chains are confronted with greater complexity and higher risk of costs; and, therefore, often fall back on transportation by truck to and from the hinterland. That is why the present research examines the impact of this evolution on the bottom line of the involved actors from a maritime supply chain perspective. The research approach consists of reviewing the relevant literature, analyzing the available sector data obtained through interviews and professional experience, and validating the proposed solutions. Starting from the research results, the problem-solving discussions resulted in the following top three as feasible solutions: digitalization, extra ‘free time’ for hinterland locations, and more attention during the negotiation process.

The rapid development of the intermodal system has led to the intensification of the hinterland competition within the port group, and the spatial pattern of the hinterland has become discontinuous. Based on geographic information system technology, a spatial interaction model, in which the intermodal cost distance is computed by integrating the raster analysis method and network method, is developed to facilitate the examination of the spatial evolution process of the port group intermodal hinterland. Considering the example of the Gulf of Guinea port group in West Africa, the spatial evolution process of its five ports is simulated in three scenarios. The results indicate that intermodal transport drives the hinterland's discontinuous development, and the direction and layout of the intermodal corridors significantly impact the hinterland competition of the port group. In most cases, the intermodal corridors can help realize connected ports to enhance the hinterland's competitive advantage within the port group. However, adjacent ports may also benefit from this aspect under certain conditions, which implies the importance of port cooperation in planning collection and distribution corridors. The model and findings can theoretically support the decision-making of port investors and operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail transport is one of the branches of transport included in the group of land transport, and its operation is related to the transport of people and cargo by means of rail transport on a specially designated railroad built for this purpose. The article presents the classification of transported cargo in rail transport, the characteristics of the rail transport market in Europe, as well as the results of the analysis of the rail transport volume in Poland in 2010-2021. This analysis included an assessment of the following features: mass of transported cargo, performed transport and operational work, the average distance of cargo transport for a group of cargo transported by rail and the volume of intermodal transport. The obtained results allowed to conclude that the transport of goods by rail is systematically increasing. Moreover, intermodal transport is developing well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Africa’s high economic growth rate, its logistics costs remain high, and many infrastructure projects and logistics policies are being implemented. Moreover, in Western Africa, where several economic communities have been established, logistics growth is still unstable due to civil conflicts and political changes. These factors are rapidly changing the logistics situation in Western Africa, and there is a need to identify changes in the competitiveness of countries and seaports that handle cargo to/from landlocked countries. The objective of this study is to quantitatively analyse the time-series changes in the logistics situation in West Africa applying the global logistics intermodal network simulation model to the African continent with different parameters by time points. Scenarios regarding political upheavals in Western Africa are examined to clarify the effect on the cargo flow of landlocked countries. The simulation results indicate that Côte d’Ivoire gets greater access to Burkina Faso if border facilities in neighbouring countries stagnate. Moreover, the absence of civil conflicts may raise the presence of Abidjan Port as a regional transhipment hub more prominent and increase its container throughputs. The findings of this study contribute to quantitatively visualising the impact of the events on the logistics situation in Western Africa, which can help formulate future logistics policies and development strategies.

Managing logistics processes from an environmental perspective is increasingly important in international supply chains. Essential elements of global logistics are supply chains based on intermodal logistic units. The specificity of this type of shipment, which often involves several modes of transport, requires a precise definition of model boundaries and identification of specific factors determining the level of carbon footprint. This research is focused on identifying the specific emissivity level of each intermodal transport stage. The conducted study refers to the international emission evaluation guidelines gathered in the UN GHG Protocol. The carbon footprint (CF) evaluation commenced during the case study indicated the need to consider the specificity of the assigned modes of transport. Hence selected emission factors such as US DEFRA, US EPA, KOBiZE and UNFCCC were engaged for better carbon footprint evaluation related to each stage of the intermodal transport process. In the summary part, the environmental efficiency level of each mode of transport has been compared. The sea freight mode was indicated as the most efficient in terms of overall kg*eCO2 per kilometre. The study shows that intermodal maritime transport, taking into account the weight of the goods transported and the distance, is approximately 68% more efficient than road transport. However, it must be mentioned that to identify the differences comprehensively, transshipment operations must also be taken into account in each scenario. Further research steps and recommendations have been presented in the last section of this research.

The value chain can be defined as a set of all processes and procedures necessary to deliver a product or service to the end-user through various stages of development. A concept of the value chain is essential in the context of transport, as the transport process is usually one of the last elements of the value chain and determines the final value of a product or service offered. In recent years, the domestic and international rail transport market has undergone significant changes, including ongoing globalisation processes, growing importance of international trade, increase in intermodal transport significance, numerous investment outlays in transport infrastructure, means of transport, and the area of rail transport interoperability. All the above-described aspects have an impact on the value chain in transport. This paper presents an analysis of the value chain in transport processes in an aspect of rail transport. Elements of the railway transport organisation process, which affect the entire value chain, were briefly characterised in this article. Moreover, based on statistical data and a literature review, factors that fundamentally impact the efficient organisation of rail transport processes were identified.

The CTU Code (Code of practice for packing of cargo transport units) is the reference manual for all aspects of loading and securing cargo in intermodal transportation units. The purpose of the Code is to increase the safety of cargo loading throughout the transport chain and provide a benchmark for process standardization, with the final aim of increasing the safety and security of workers, goods, cargo units, means of transport and environment. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate, through an empirical survey of a sample of 26 Italian companies, how the application of the CTU Code to cargo loading and transportation processes can increase the safety level of transport activities, and also improve business processes and competitiveness. The results show that the use of the CTU Code provides an increase in safety with a drastic reduction of loading accidents and damage to goods, as well as important benefits in terms of costs, improved efficiency, corporate image and reduced environmental impact.

Reduced free time and increased fees for demurrage and detention create organizational challenges with respect to intermodal transport. As a result, actors within the maritime supply chains are confronted with greater complexity and higher risk of costs; and, therefore, often fall back on transportation by truck to and from the hinterland. That is why the present research examines the impact of this evolution on the bottom line of the involved actors from a maritime supply chain perspective. The research approach consists of reviewing the relevant literature, analyzing the available sector data obtained through interviews and professional experience, and validating the proposed solutions. Starting from the research results, the problem-solving discussions resulted in the following top three as feasible solutions: digitalization, extra 'free time' for hinterland locations, and more attention during the negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasingly environmentally conscious global economy is placing new demands on supply chain engineering, with a focus on sustainable approaches to modelling transport chain. In addition to the price and time efficiencies that characterize agile and lean supply chains, strategies for low-carbon and energy-efficient external transport must also be incorporated. This research therefore focuses on the challenges of organizing the supply of small overseas shipments to define how the relationship between land and sea transport in the selected intermodal chain affects environmental and energy performance. Understanding the input parameters and their impacts is a prerequisite for planning CO2, NOx, SO2 and NMHC emissions, as well as energy efficiency (EE) of overseas transportation. The number of individual transport legs and their characteristics are crucial parameters for sustainable transport chains. The applicability of the proposed research framework is carried out on the example of outbound supply chains of the southern part of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor using intermodal transport chains of small shipments via the ports of Koper and Genoa. The results of the case study show that an additional transport leg representing only 2 % longer land transport to the port of Genoa significantly affects the carbon footprint of the whole supply chain's compared to chains via the port of Koper. Moreover, other results also require special attention in supply chain modeling. The study enriches the field of supply chain engineering, as there is a lack of such studies. The study is part of the project "Green port - Developing a sustainable model for the growth of the green port", co-founded by the Slovenian Research Agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]