Prof. Ralf Elbert, Raphael Hackober and Yuerui Tang traveled to Dresden for the 13th Logistics Management Conference from September 13-15, 2023, and presented current research results in not one but two talks. Prof. Elbert and Raphael Hackober spoke about interdisciplinary research of innovations in intermodal rail freight transport and how research addresses these innovations – this is part of ongoing research conducted with Kedge Business School, the Technical University Dublin, the University of Gothenburg and the University of Iceland.

Together with Yuerui Tang , Prof. Elbert spoke about train load planning for intermodal rail operators in a hub-and-spoke network and about optimization possibilities on every level: from individual wagons to entire CT trains, and even the broader rail freight transport network, there's a pressing need for meticulous load planning. They also pointed out that there is untapped potential: while individual wagon and train load planning are well-understood, the real opportunity lies in optimizing the entire service network. Imagine a world where every loading unit is efficiently routed, ensuring maximum capacity utilization and minimal disruptions. To truly revolutionize CT networks, we need to explore mathematical optimization, discrete simulation models, and even machine learning for order prediction. The goal? Boosting sustainability and cost-effectiveness in freight transportation.