2018 Report on Combined Transport in Europe

Foreword by the UIC Combined Transport Group Chairman Eric Lambert

2018 – The Year of Multimodality – comes to its end

In regards with this topic, a lot of events and workshops were organised, stressing the major role of combined transport as the most sustainable and environmental friendly transport mode.

This year’s highlight is undoubtedly Noah’s train, launched by the Rail Freight Forward initiative (1), in the context of the COP24 with the objective to increase the rail freight volume to 30% by 2030.

This 7th edition of the Report on Combined Transport contains a focus on the European CT-wagon fleet including actual figures but also the expected trend by the year 2025. These holistic figures, demonstrate the vitality of the sector through the high level of investments foreseen in this domain.

In the coming years, the business model will likely change to a more integrated and digitalized logistic chain in which the Combined Transport will become the commonly accepted mode of transport, adding up flexibility, sustainability and lower carbon footprint.

Many thanks to the members of the UIC Combined Transport Group, our partners and the CTwagon fleet stakeholders and manufacturers for their input to this valuable biannual report.

(1) Rail Freight Forward is a coalition of European rail freight companies which are committed to drastically reducing the negative impact of freight transport on the planet and mobility through innovation and a more intelligent transport mix. The coalition has the ambition to increase the modal share of rail freight to 30% by 2030 as the macro-economically bet-ter solution for European growth. It strives to engage railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and policymakers across Europe in acting to realize this modal shift. https://railfreightforward.eu/