Improving intermodal solutions for transalpine freight traffic.

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Road traffic congestion is growing continuously and at a rapid pace. The problems this brings are found in concentrated form on the small number of transit routes across the Alps.

Substantial damage to the environment caused by noise and particle emissions, poor transport safety as well as high economic losses in the fields of logistics and tourism are putting a strain on the region. Alternative means of transport are in urgent need of being strengthened in order to relieve the burden on the area, the people and the roads.

Against this background TRANSITECTS is aiming at…

• creating sustainable intermodal solutions for transalpine freight traffic which fit changing markets
• improving the railway network’s attractiveness and accessibility for the logistic market
• disburdening alpine transport routes and generate positive ecologic and economic impacts
• implementing the shift from road to rail related traffic
• activating synergies and leverage effects through transnational cooperation

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Although the global economic crisis caused a decrease of transport flows, road traffic congestion is growing continuously and at a rapid pace. The problems this brings are found in concentrated form on the small number of transit routes across the Alps. In 2007, 71% of the freight traffic across the Brenner was running on the road. Substantial damage to the environment caused by noise and particle emissions, poor transport safety as well as high economic losses in the fields of logistics and tourism are putting a strain on the region.

Already existing developments and prognoses indicate that the global growth of containers is going to spill over to the ports of the Adriatic (e.g. Koper) and the Ligurian Sea (e.g. Genova). Consequently, cargo volumes and related transalpine transports will surely enhance in the long term. An insufficient supply of attractive rail products will intensify the already existing growth of freight traffic on the road and the related environmental, ecologic and social problems. Thus alternative means of transport are in urgent need of being strengthened.

Present rail solutions for freight transport look very promising but have not been used sufficiently, yet. Reasons for that are that the railway system isn't attractive enough and existing rail products are neither suitable (wrong relation, wrong system) nor sufficient (no capacities). Furthermore the accessibility of the intermodal system is poor and the number of intermodal nodes with sufficient capacities is low. E.g. there are fewer terminals in Southern Germany than in Northern Italy.

Considering additionally, that, in times of economic crisis, many companies find time to restructure their organizations and their logistics, it is time to develop and present innovative ideas and products, now.

To make cross regional transport easier, greener and more efficient, TRANSITECTS develops and promotes intermodal solutions for transalpine freight traffic, particularly on important transit routes. Moreover, the project will enhance the attractiveness of transalpine freight transport by rail to the logistics market. The range of rail transport services will be extended; cargo transport centres and the development of innovative combined transport products will be improved; tangible specifications will be implemented. An environmental model will illustrate the positive effects of the measures taken.

Given that traffic flows across the Alps connect and affect a large number of countries and regions, intensive transnational cooperation forms the basis for the development of sustainable solutions. In TRANSITECTS German, Austrian, Italian and Slovenian partners propose and develop freight transport alternatives to the road - both in the Alpine region and in a pan-European network. Furthermore, stakeholders from the logistic market, politics and other projects are intensively involved to develop, promote and discuss sustainable approaches and to spatially, technically and organisationally support the modal shift to rail.

Pilot projects

In TRANSITECTS several pilot projects are implemented.

On the one hand, project partners analyse the conditions respectively develop new transnational rail services for combined transports. Investigations concern the following connections:

• Lombardy Region to Baden-Württemberg / Bavaria and Austria / East Europe
• Adriatic ports and Ligurian ports to Baden-Württemberg / Bavaria
• Friuli Venezia Giulia Region to East Europe
• Antenna between inland port of Mantova and Cremona to Adriatic ports
• Slovenia to Germany / Austria

On the other hand, partners analyse capacities and handling processes for intermodal transports. The focus lies on the following aspects:

• Enhanced accessibility and functionality of intermodal nodes in Veneto, Carinthia and Baden-Württemberg/Bavaria
• Optimized use of available infrastructures on the Brenner axis