“We are looking for a new location.” Easier said than done. Choosing a (new) location is one of the most strategically important decisions a company makes – with far-reaching consequences for costs, supply chains, accessibility and employees. But what makes a location attractive? What alternatives are there? How do you make an informed choice?

The modal shift requires more than just rail freight transport, the appropriate infrastructure and digital transformation.

TU Darmstadt connects generations, promotes lifelong learning and strengthens networks that extend far beyond graduation.

Semi-trailers account for around 70% of freight traffic on Germany's roads. So how can we shift more goods from road to rail?

The advantages of combined road/rail freight transport (CT) are obvious: less CO₂, fewer traffic jams, greater attractiveness for drivers. The German government also predicts that combined transport will grow by 76% by 2051, and yet there are still many hurdles to overcome!

And how robust is the transport system in the event of disruptions or fluctuating transport volumes? Our successfully completed research project “Logistics networks in the steel industry” examined precisely these issues. Traditionally, coal has played a central role in crude steel production, with large quantities being transported to steel producers by rail. However, climate protection requirements are setting new priorities: coal is to be increasingly replaced by hydrogen and a higher proportion of steel scrap.

What are the reasons why digital platforms are used in intermodal freight transport – and why not? Paul Bossong, Anne Reinhardt and Prof. Ralf Elbert explored the reasons why by interviewing 21 firms in the intermodal freight transport industry such as platform providers, intermodal operators, freight forwarders, terminal operators and market experts

How do intermodal terminals tackle infrastructure challenges such as capacity constraints and coordination hiccups? Our students set out to find answers—and they did!

The German logistics sector is currently facing a real tour de force: A shortage of skilled workers, rising costs, rail networks in need of renovation and bumps on the digital data highway are just some of the tasks that need to be mastered. In the face of such challenges, creative and flexible thinking counts more than ever before.

Combined transport will continue to grow – that's what the prognoses say. But how can more goods be transported by rail if the infrastructure is at its limit, rail cannot keep up with road in terms of flexibility and price and the argument of sustainability is not valid indefinitely with growing numbers of e-trucks?