A Data Space for Combined Road-Rail Freight Transport in Hesse

Combined road-rail freight transport (CT) plays a crucial role in achieving climate goals in transportation and is one of the fastest-growing segments in freight transport in Germany. By 2051, CT freight traffic is projected to increase by 73% compared to 2019. The rapid growth in CT freight traffic poses high demands on infrastructure and operational process efficiency. Currently, CT terminals, serving as the interface between pre-carriage and on-carriage by road and the main carriage by rail, face capacity constraints. This research project focuses on enhancing operational process efficiency in and around CT terminals by leveraging existing resources. Similar applications in other transport systems demonstrate that digital networking and communication between various CT stakeholders involved in CT terminals (e.g., freight forwarders, truckers, terminal operators, and railway undertakings) could increase efficiency in both information exchange and operational processes.

The research project aims to identify the requirements and potential for establishing a digital data space in Hesse, Germany to improve information exchange and process efficiency in and around CT terminals. It will involve conducting a qualitative interview study to capture the current data usage around CT terminals and the desired state for data exchange through a CT data space from the perspective of different stakeholders involved in CT. Special attention will be given to data ownership and data availability to enhance process efficiency at CT terminals as well as in the connected road and rail freight transport. The research outcomes will lead to a list of requirements and initial recommendations for establishing a digital data space for CT terminals or CT in general in Hesse.

The research findings can provide a theoretical basis for improving efficiency in CT terminals in particular and CT in general, and initiate follow-up projects for the practical implementation of an innovative data space in Hessen, reflecting the high level of innovation in the research project. The close collaboration with various CT stakeholders from the industry ensures the high practical relevance of the research project.