Sustainable Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe

A fully operational transport system with good quality physical infrastructures and effective management tools is essential for the economic growth, as trade and transport are strongly interrelated. This book examines the problem of guaranteeing a sustainable development of the intermodal freight transport in Europe, in particular by short-sea shipping and railway transport exploitation, as these transport modes are recognized as environmentally friendly and energy efficient. In detail, Motorways of the Sea services as part of the TEN-T are described: the European policy and a state of the art of the Italian MOS system are reported, focusing on the need to integrate MOS in the door-to-door transport chain. Afterwards the spotlight shifts from line to node: the role of intermodal railway terminals in the transport chain is discussed; last mile process and its planning and management models are analysed, with reference to two Italian case studies, and a new approach to these matters is introduced. The survey may proof very useful for professionals, academics and common people who want to deal with innovative strategies and procedures for a sustainable movement of goods all over EU.