RETRACK - Reorganisation of Transport Networks by Advanced Rail Freight Concepts |
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| The RETRACK project supported the
Commission's aspirations to induce a sustainable modal shift of
freight traffic from road to rail to achieve a market share of
15% by 2020. This aspiration was also supported by the European
Rail Research Advisory Council's (ERRAC) declared aim of
bolstering rail's market share of freight to a similar level. The RETRACK project applied an innovative rail freight service concept to the movement of rail freight across Europe. This was achieved through the design, development and implementation of a commercial trans-European rail freight service along the rail corridor between Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Constanza (Romania) on the Black Sea. The project aimed to secure a significant modal shift of cargo from road to rail and to create an effective and scalable rail freight corridor between high demand regions in Western Europe and new high growth regions in Central and Eastern Europe. The project looked to develop links with other emergent corridors from the TEN-T network as well as those assessed in the REORIENT and TREND projects. Overall, the RETRACK project addressed the issues arising from transforming vision into practice and established a clear demonstration to the rail freight and wider logistics industry that pan European continental rail freight can be competitive, reliable and value for money. |
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Added value for SMEs In the RETRACK Consortium, new and upcoming European rail freight operators, experienced IT and training specialists and leading European research and development organisations have taken the initiative to design, develop and implement a new and innovative trans-European rail freight service concept, starting with the rail corridor Rotterdam to Constanza (Romania) and on to the Black Sea area and Turkey. The chosen trans-European corridor for RETRACK is an ambitious one, with a high potential for a modal shift of cargo from road to rail, creating an effective and scalable freight corridor between high growth areas in Western and Eastern Europe. Train Control Centre to be developed in RETRACK will result in strongly improved cross-border interoperability for rail freight services. Who benefits from the project? European shippers and logistics service providers, because they can choose to use multimodal door-to-door transport including a rail freight service with a high level of reliability and frequency against competitive prices. The use of rail freight service can fit seamlessly into their Supply Chain Management (SCM) requirements, and using rail freight service can be as easy as using road haulage. "New" European rail freight operators, because they have the opportunity to transport a substantial volume on the corridor Rotterdam – Constanza for a variety of shippers and logistics service providers, and based, on this can set up a viable rail freight service. This viable service is aimed at integration of SCM Requirements of customers. |
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Download the project description in PDF. |
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More information: http://www.retrack.eu |
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