Unlocking the Potential of Rail Freight, Innovations and Challenges

Rail freight is a superior choice for green transport compared to road, playing a crucial role in achieving decongestion and striving for modal shift goals. However, rail freight transport faces its own challenges, including cross-border interoperability and intermodal connections. Investments and innovations are essential to unlocking its full potential within the wider context of multimodal logistics.

In the upcoming Rhine-Alpine Talk #17 (RAT) session this week, 28^th of June starting from 11.00h, we are eager to share and discuss insights from key players in the transport industry. Real case studies from the Horizon Europe-funded innovation project MultiRELOAD on new rail freight concepts as well as integration within digital multimodal nodes, will be presented.

These cases aim to inspire attendees and challenge them to consider which potential regulatory frameworks still need to be addressed to advance innovation to the next phase.

Register now for this online session and join us to learn from industry leaders, including representatives from Duisport, the Province of Limburg, CargoBeamer and IDIT among others. This event promises valuable discussions and opportunities to contribute to the future of rail freight within multimodal transport chains.

Programme

11.00h Welcome

Cecilia Braun, Director at EGTC Rhine-Alpine

11.05h Introduction

Erwin van der Linden, moderator and MultiRELOAD Project Officer at EGTC Rhine-Alpine

11.10h On the relevance of Smart Multimodal Logistics

Ton Neumann, Programme Manager Logistics at the Province of Limburg

11.20h Providing multimodal solutions: introduction of MultiRELOAD innovations

Jan-Christoph Maass, Sr. Project Manager Research and Innovation at the Port of Duisburg and project coordinator of the MultiRELOAD project

11.35h Innovation pitch I: a closer look at CargoBeamer’s CboxX rail freight solution

Dmitrij Simin, R&D Manager at CargoBeamer

11.45h  Innovation pitch II: Digital Twin for improving transparency and efficiency of transport chains

José Antonio Clemente Pérez, Tech Lead at Prodevelop

11.55h The legal framework of Multimodal Logistics and the need for harmonization

Gaëlle Bonjour, Legal Researcher at Institut du Droit International des Transports (IDIT)

12.10h Unlocking the potential, discussion on possible contributions

Erwin van der Linden, moderator and MultiRELOAD Project Officer at EGTC Rhine-Alpine

12.30 END 

By clicking here, you can register to receive your personal Zoom link. 

Is Europe on track towards net zero mobility?

Symbolic picture by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

This paper by Tommaso Pardi, of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, aims to investigate if the European Union’s “Fit for 55” update to its CO2 regulation is capable of correcting past errors and putting Europe on track to achieve net zero mobility by 2050, while also addressing the new challenges brought about by the accelerated electrification process.

According to the paper’s analysis, the “Fit for 55” update and, more broadly, the direction that Europe’s electrification journey is taking, both require immediate correction.

Simple steps that could direct Europe’s new car manufacturing and sales in the direction of greater sustainability, inclusivity, and efficiency are cited.

These include integrating lifecycle analysis into the regulatory framework to guarantee that an automobile’s entire carbon impact is appropriately taken into consideration and gradually replacing the weight-based standards regime with one that is more focused on energy efficiency. All of these policies ought to drive European automakers’ output and sales of new vehicles in the direction of more economical, environmentally friendly, and locally produced electric vehicles.

The study comes to the conclusion that, in order to move electromobility systems closer to affordability, support systems must be completely redesigned.

The full paper can be downloaded from Researchgate by clicking here

European IWT Platform 2023 Annual Report

Symbolic picture by Geralt on Pixabay

European IWT-Platform (IWTP) released its Annual Report for the year 2023.

In the report,  the organisation states to have made substantial progress towards sustainable IWT goals and targets in 2023. As a Type C member of the Sustainable Transport Forum, the IWT Platform has provided knowledge and collaborated with appropriate partners on EU sustainability projects.

The IWT-P channelled the sector’s greening, technology deployment, and funding needs through strategic partnerships and initiatives like the Co-Programmed Partnership on Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport (cPP ZEWT), Alice, Hydrogen Europe, and the WATERBORNE TP.

IWT-P also reviewed the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), including Alternative Sustainable Fuels. Through its dedicated IWT Committees and members, IWT-P addressed IWT labour shortages and promoted sector leadership and collaboration.
The IWT Platform also participated in Horizon Europe projects like IWNET, ENTRANCE, DT4GS, PIONEERS, Platina3, and ReNEW.
IWT-P also organised the Inland Navigation Week and other project events, proving its function as a knowledge transfer and collaboration platform for the IWT sector.

The IWT Platform ensures continuity and effective leadership in supporting a more sustainable and competitive IWT Sector after management changes and plans for organisational consolidation, professionalisation, and strategic positioning mandated by the IWT-P Management Board.

The full annual report can be downloaded on IWT-P’s website by clicking here