The European Green Deal aims to reduce transport emissions by 90 % by 2050. Therefore, more environmentally friendly modes of freight transport are becoming increasingly important. It is intermodal freight transport which can help reduce emissions: If the first and last mile take place on the road and the main run, i.e. the longest distance, is shifted to rail, the strengths of both modes of transport are combined. However, combining multiple modes of transport increases complexity. In their article in “Industrial Innovations”, Prof. Ralf Elbert, Paul Bossong, Dr. Anne Reinhardt look at how emerging digital platforms aim to overcome this challenge.

Am 13. September 2024 trafen sich Ralf Elbert und Paul Bossong mit den assoziierten Partner*innen zum erfolgreichen Abschlusstreffen des Forschungsprojekts „ConnectedKV“ im House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) in Frankfurt. Gemeinsam haben sie darüber diskutiert, wie digitale Plattformen den Kombinierten Straßen-/Schienengüterverkehr effizienter gestalten können – und dabei spannende Erkenntnisse gewonnen!

On 12 September 2024, the House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) in Frankfurt hosted an event that brought together numerous industry experts and specialists from the field of combined transport.The focus was on presentations and discussions on key challenges and common goals: CO2reduction, solutions to the shortage of skilled workers and greater efficiency and reliability on the first and last mile of freight transport.

Our research project “DataKV” sought to answer this question! We used qualitative interview studies to investigate the requirements and potential for the development of a digital data space in Hesse. The aim? To promote the exchange of information and the efficiency of processes in and around combined transport terminals.

Freight transportation in Germany faces the challenge of becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly on both road and rail. The solution? Combined road-rail freight transport (CT), which combines the strengths of both modes to provide a sustainable alternative to pure road freight transport. Although CT is often seen as an area of gradual change, recent years have shown that dynamic developments are possible.

To shape the future of rail, we presented two exciting projects at the 9th HOLM Innovation Marketplace of the House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) in Frankfurt am Main on September 3, 2024.

More goods need to be transported via rail – but how? Combined road/rail freight transport (CT) combines the flexibility of road freight transport with the environmental friendliness of rail – a perfect combination for achieving our climate targets.

Germany can only cope with the constantly growing volume of goods in the long term with the help of combined road/rail freight transport (CT) – and this is becoming increasingly important. With this development, it is essential to identify potential and sustainable measures that can strengthen CT in Germany. Together with Yuerui Tang, Prof. Elbert presents 23 measures in the latest issue of “Internationales Verkehrswesen”. These include, for example, the use of digital automatic coupling or data-driven planning with artificial intelligence.

The seminar will explore challenges and potential solutions in maintaining robust intermodal transport chains amidst disruptions. Join SIG B3 for an insightful online session on the robustness of intermodal transport chains and operations amidst disruptions on 14 November 2024 at 4-5 p.m. CET.

Life is a constant exchange – as it is for the students of our “Intermodal Transport Services” course, who had the opportunity to get to know the House of Logistics and Mobility in Frankfurt am Main last Wednesday. The experts of tomorrow exchanged ideas with Jonathan Schröer, Head of Terminal Services at CargoBeamer, and gained insights into the intelligent and environmentally friendly solutions and technologies that CargoBeamer offers to strengthen combined transport in Germany and Europe, and how the company makes the transport of non-craneable semi-trailers possible.