DIOMIS. International Combined Transport Production Systems including long and heavy trains (Workpackage A7)

One of the greatest challenges for international combined transport is to consolidate volumes to feed the most efficient type of rail production so that a daily service can be operated in both directions. This report on "Intermodal Combined Transport Production systems" focuses on two main aspects: Firstly it carries out an in depth analysis of the various combined transport production systems such as direct and shuttle trains, group trains, single wagonload, liner train and more sophisticated hub and gateway systems. It also provides, in the form of fact sheets, an assessment of the production systems from three perspectives: market features, combined transport operator’s perspective and the infrastructure perspective. Secondly the report provides an assessment of how trains of greater length such as 1000m - 1500m impact on infrastructure utilisation and identifies corridors on which running such trains could achieved.