N.R.J. Langenkamp
Intermodaal railvervoer in de Verenigde Staten.
Literature survey,
Report 93.3.TT.4192, Transport Engineering and Logistics.
Intermodal rail transport in the United States has shown a enormous growth
in the last years. It started at the end of the 1970s with creating a free
transport-market by deregulation. The railroad companies could improve their
earnings which allowed them to invest in equipment and infrastructure and
boost their productivity. Especially the development of the double-stack
system was very important. Today double-stack accounts for 30% of the total
intermodal loadings, while nearly 50% of the loadings are trailers.
A bimodal trailer system, the RoadRailer, is also used in the United States.
However, this trailers are rather expensive, the use of the RoadRailers is
only efficient in some dedicated corridors.
A new generation locomotives is introduced. These have alternating-current
traction motors, which deliver more traction compaired to conventional
locomotives with direct-current motors.
With regard at the growing congestion and the environment, a further growth
of the intermodal transport is expected. A lot of railroad companies are
involved in merger and acquisition talks. Much equipment is acquired. Special
trains are dedicated for intermodal transport in short hauls.
In Europe the first private owned railroad companies in Europe are expected
within a few years. However, it will last for about 20 years at least before
there will be intermodal transport at a big scale.
Reports on Transport Engineering and Logistics (in Dutch)
Modified: 2008.01.26;
logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl
, TU Delft
/ 3mE
/ TT
/ LT.