Exchanging ideas and cooperation not only advance humanity, but Combined Transport (CT), too. But how can we implement cooperative approaches on the railways and in CT to improve both efficiency and flexibility? This is precisely where our research at TU Darmstadt comes in.

Together, Prof. Ralf Elbert and Max Preisinger examined in detail how a freight cooperation between combined transport operators could help to make combined transport services more attractive, flexible, and economical during a workshop discussion at the 5th BME/VDV Intermodal Congress. One idea: additional loads that are transshipped at further intermediate stops can increase capacity utilization and thus the economic efficiency of combined transport trains.

• What models of cooperation between KV operators are conceivable?
• How can a transport network contribute to better bundling of loading units?
• What operational and economic conditions must be met?

The DVZ recently reported on our research project, the “CT Hub Hesse”. Read more about the planned CT cargo cooperative here.

Many thanks to the Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V., the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV), and shift2030 for the successful organization!