INTERMODAL TRANSPORT – DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES
Intermodal transport is understood as carriage of goods in one and the same loading unit or vehicle using different modes of transport and without reloading the goods themselves in changing modes of transport. Examples of intermodal transport are:
car-rail,
car-rail-sea,
car-sea,
car-sea,
car-rail-water,
car-air.
INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IN EU POLICY
Development of intermodal transport is one of the priority directions of action within the Union's transport policy of the European Union, as indicated by the competitive strategy adopted by the European Commission transport system - White Paper - Transport in 2050. As part of this document with regard to intermodal transport, the need was indicated optimizing efforts to create multimodal chains by increasing the use of more energy-efficient ones means of transport. Creation in the context of the core network was also highlighted TEN-T structures of freight corridors allowing for the synchronization of investments and work on infrastructure, and to support efficient, innovative and multimodal transport services, including medium and medium-sized rail services long distances. Among the objectives set out in the White Paper are, among others: moving 30% of road freight transport to Poland by 2030 distances greater than 300 km to other means of transport, e.g. rail or water transport, and by 2050 over 50% of this type of transport and the creation of 2030 a fully functional, multimodal TEN-T core network, including the entire EU area, and by 2050 to achieve high throughput and quality network with a complementary set of relevant information services. Further and dynamic development of intermodal transport is conditioned in particular availability of funds, including those from EU funds investments in infrastructure or rolling stock.
WHY INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IS SO IMPORTANT?
Transport, including intermodal transport, is of key importance for European integration and the free movement of people, goods and services. It is a very important sector of the economy, which has a significant share in gross value added in the EU.
The main advantages of intermodal transport are:
- Sustainable development - reducing the negative impact on the environment. Intermodal transport is environmentally friendly natural, as studies show that when switching from truck to intermodal transport, the CO2 emission of the shipment is reduced by an average of 30%.
- Lower costs and transport time - reduction transport costs and increasing the choice of transport variants, faster shipping using rail due to increased capacity and avoiding traffic jams or roadworks, faster delivery time, especially in the case of long-distance transport, by using the optimal route, i.e. one with high fuel efficiency , goods and time transport.
- Less impact of unfavorable weather conditions on the delivery time. Increased cargo security - transport intermodal ensures greater safety through the use of railways, which reduces the chance of theft, through a high level of security at terminals, docks and railway stations as well as constant supervision over the load and uninterrupted train traffic, it is less susceptible to road accidents, significantly more common in road transport, and transport in containers reduces the chance of cargo damage.
- Reduces road congestion - the use of rail or sea transport significantly reduces road congestion. Less truck traffic on roads and border crossings also increases road safety.
Intermodal transport enables the implementation of the idea of sustainable development of the transport system, focused on friendly for people environment transport solutions, including rail transport. Sustainable development of transport is achieved by using the advantages of rail transport, which include, among others, the possibility of transporting large loads over long distances and low emissions.
STATE OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IN POLAND
In Poland, intermodal transport is one of the most dynamically developing areas of transport. In the country, intermodal transport is mostly dominated by road transport, which accounts for 73% of the total share of processed transport, followed by rail transport is in second place with a share of 23%, while inland waterway transport accounts for less than 1% of the total.
At the end of 2021, there were 39 active terminals in Poland, including 4 sea terminals (sea-rail and sea-road) and 35 land terminals (rail-road).
PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT
In Poland, the prospects and conditions for the development of intermodal transport are good both in terms of international and domestic transport. The construction of container terminals and the increase in container transport is one of the key directions for the development of intermodal transport.
The main reasons for the development of intermodal transport in Poland are:
- the EU transport policy, focused on the development of environmentally friendly types of transport,
- increase in international exchange and demand for international transport,
- geographical location of the country (important transport corridors run through Poland.
Striving for the development of intermodal transport and increasing intermodal transport is very important for Polish transport, because intermodal transport is primarily an alternative to road transport and allows to increase
safety of transport, and is also important for Poland's economic growth.
