1. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Backcasting for modal shift - Significance of local perspectives on intermodal transport for sustainable freight transport strategies
- 2009
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In: NOFOMA, Jun 10-12 2009, Jönköping, Sweden.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose of this paper:To identify the requirements of a competitive and sustainable intermodal transport system, taking all stakeholders into account, and to outline elements of a holistic strategy toward modal shift.Design/methodology/approach:This article follows the backcasting approach and takes the form of desk research and conceptual work complemented by workshops within the FastRCargo project.Findings:If the policy goal of modal shift is to be achieved, intermodal transport needs to go beyond the current approach of a concentrated network of large-scale terminals. The implementation of a dense network of small-scale terminals can contribute to both global and local sustainability as well as to the competitiveness of regions. Local authorities can play a key role in resolving long-term implementation barriers by facilitating the formation of regional actor networks. Research limitations/implications:This paper is a conceptual study from a transport systems perspective and is based on a literature review on previous research. A case study on implementing a small-scale terminal could reveal implementation barriers and drivers from an actor’s perspective and provide further insights for the development of strategies toward modal shift.Practical implications:Intermodal freight transport has a significant local dimension. Local authorities therefore need better freight transport planning capabilities and logistics competence.What is original/value of paper:The paper follows a backcasting approach and therefore goes beyond solutions that are considered “realistic” today. In this way, the paper identifies “new” elements for a long-term strategy toward modal shift.
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2. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Burden or opportunity for modal shift? – Embracing the urban dimension of intermodal road-rail transport
- 2017
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In: Transport Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0967-070X .- 1879-310X. ; 59, s. 10-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intermodal road-rail transport (IRRT) has a significant urban dimension, which affects the modal shift potential and the environmental benefits of rail freight. This paper explores the relevance of local policies for sustainable modal shift strategies by conceptualising the links between urban planning and rail freight. The presented framework identifies measures that local authorities can apply in order to increase the market and environmental improvement potential of IRRT. The results indicate that local urban transport planning has a significant role to play in the promotion of rail freight. Integrating rail freight into long-term urban development plans offers new possibilities for rail freight that are necessary in order to achieve a sustainable freight transport system in the face of ever-increasing road transport volumes.
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3. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Factors Influencing the Performance of Urban Consolidation Schemes
- 2016
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In: Lecture Notes in Logistics. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 2194-8925 .- 2194-8917. ; , s. 351-367
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Various urban consolidation centres (UCC) have been implemented in recent years in order to improve logistics performance while at the same time reducing the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of urban deliveries. However, many UCCs have struggled to operate on a commercial basis and are either terminated or depend on government subsidies. Literature has identified many factors influencing the environmental performance as well as the economic feasibility of urban consolidation schemes, including range and type of products handled, location and spatial coverage of the UCC. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the relevance and significance of the key factors on the environmental and economic performance. The paper takes a case study approach, analysing a pilot project of consolidated last mile deliveries in the city centre of Gothenburg. The findings suggest that the improvement potential of innovative technology enabling zero-emission last-mile distribution is only marginal. Organisational changes enabling a separation of feedering trip and last-mile trip have a much bigger improvement potential, even in case conventional technology is used for last-mile deliveries. The relative importance of organisational changes in comparison to innovative technology increases with city size and level of congestion on the citywide road network. The paper discusses the practical implications and theoretical contribution of these findings.
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4. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Measures available to local authorities to support sustainable modal shift strategies
- 2013
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In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on City Logistics. ; , s. 316-329
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intermodal road-rail transport (IRRT) has a significant urban dimension, which affects the modal shift potential and the environmental benefits of rail freight. Policy planning must therefore consider the interactions of urban freight and IRRT instead of handling them as separate policy concerns. This paper aims to identify solutions applicable by local authorities to increase the modal shift and environmental improvement potential of IRRT. The results indicate how local authorities can integrate rail freight in their long-term development plans, and by this create new possibilities for rail freight that are needed to in order to achieve a sustainable freight transport system in the face of ever-increasing road transport volumes.
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5. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Myndigheters roll för urban vattenburen logistik
- 2022
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Trots att det finns ett stort intresse för urban vattenburen logistik (UVL) hos nationella, regionala och kommunala myndigheter, används urbana vattenvägar i Sverige mycket sparsamt. I denna rapport analyserar vi vad myndigheter kan göra för att driva på utvecklingen för ökad användning av UVL. Vår analys visar att en större användning av UVL begränsas av hinder på flera nivåer som förstärker varandra och resulterar i inlåsningsmekanismer i dagens transportsystem. Förutom hinder som är kopplade till ekonomiska parametrar, regelverk, fysiska förutsättningar samt tekniska artefakter, spelar även hinder som är relaterade till beslutfattarnas beteende, kultur och värderingar en viktig roll i detta sammanhang. För att UVL ska kunna implementeras och komma till användning i större skala krävs det därför förändringar på samtliga nivåer. Det finns flera möjligheter för myndigheterna att utveckla marknaden för UVL och att stärka UVL:s konkurrenskraft. Dessa är dock svåra att genomföra på grund av beslutfattarnas rutiner, vanor och tillvägagångssätt som upprätthåller inlåsningsmekanismer. Den viktigaste åtgärden för att driva på utvecklingen av UVL är därför att skapa en stödjande kultur för UVL hos myndigheterna.
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6. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Novel rail transport services : Deliverable D12
- 2010
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Intermodal road‐rail transport has a medium to high market share for large flows over long distances and for seaport hinterland flows, and competes on cost in these markets with road transport. Due to the small size of this market segment compared to the total transport market the modal shift potential is marginal at best. It is therefore increasingly recognized that the conventional approach to intermodal transport focusing on large flows over long distances may be insufficient to address the persistent problem of a growing modal share of road freight. As a complement to the conventional approach, alternative network operations are needed that allow an intensification of rail services and expansion of geographical coverage. This innovative approach requires fast and efficient transhipment operations, which cannot be achieved by the present conventional terminals since they absorb too much time and money. Hence, technological innovations in the transhipment process will have a major role to play for achieving a modal shift. The raiload technology enables automatic transhipments of standardised loading units below catenaries and thereby makes fast and efficient transhipment operations possible, both for railrail as well as for rail‐road exchange. By that, the technology facilitates the implementation of innovative rail networks. The aim of this research is to analyse how this technological innovation can be integrated in a context of innovative intermodal transport services. The results indicate that fast and efficient transhipment technologies are a prerequisite for intermodal linertrains which can integrate short and medium distance transports in the intermodal system. Linertrains can open business opportunities for operators and cost savings for shippers in a market segment which is dominated by road transport. Furthermore, linertrains can further contribute to reaching policy goals, e.g., lower externalities from freight transport and regional development of far‐off regions. Yet, it is still too early to expect a breakthrough of linertrains. The implementation requires a system innovation but current politics and dominant actors still limit their actions to incremental improvements within the current rail production paradigm and dominant technology based on economies of scale and oppose organisational innovations. However, the fact that the implementation of intermodal linertrains seems to be unrealistic today should not discourage policy makers and stakeholders. System innovations are long‐termprocesses and there are indications that the transition process has started. Continuously increasing freight transport volumes and a significantly increased awareness for sustainable development put the dominating road freight transport paradigm under pressure. As a response, transport politics, transport buyers, and transport operators show an increased interest in intermodal transport. Hence, the current barriers should be seen as challenges to overcome rather than as impediments to progress. To manage the transition towards innovative intermodal transport services and to overcome current barriers, there is a need for connecting the existing dynamics by applying the technological innovation in the existing large‐scale production system. These niche‐applications do not require major changes of transport and logistics structures and can provide room for technological learning and development which is needed to reduce economic uncertainties and risks involved in technological innovations. A promising approach is a new‐generation large scale hub terminal for seaport hinterland flows, since the raiload technology can contribute to solving existing efficiency and capacity problems in this segment of the transport market.
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7. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976, et al.
(author)
-
Novel rail transport services
- 2010
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Intermodal road‐rail transport has a medium to high market share for large flows over long distances and for seaport hinterland flows, and competes on cost in these markets with road transport. Due to the small size of this market segment compared to the total transport market the modal shift potential is marginal at best. It is therefore increasingly recognized that the conventional approach to intermodal transport focusing on large flows over long distances may be insufficient to address the persistent problem of a growing modal share of road freight. As a complement to the conventional approach, alternative network operations are needed that allow an intensification of rail services and expansion of geographical coverage. This innovative approach requires fast and efficient transhipment operations, which cannot be achieved by the present conventional terminals since they absorb too much time and money. Hence, technological innovations in the transhipment process will have a major role to play for achieving a modal shift. The raiload technology enables automatic transhipments of standardised loading units below catenaries and thereby makes fast and efficient transhipment operations possible, both for railrail as well as for rail‐road exchange. By that, the technology facilitates the implementation of innovative rail networks. The aim of this research is to analyse how this technological innovation can be integrated in a context of innovative intermodal transport services. The results indicate that fast and efficient transhipment technologies are a prerequisite for intermodal linertrains which can integrate short and medium distance transports in the intermodal system. Linertrains can open business opportunities for operators and cost savings for shippers in a market segment which is dominated by road transport. Furthermore, linertrains can further contribute to reaching policy goals, e.g., lower externalities from freight transport and regional development of far‐off regions. Yet, it is still too early to expect a breakthrough of linertrains. The implementation requires a system innovation but current politics and dominant actors still limit their actions to incremental improvements within the current rail production paradigm and dominant technology based on economies of scale and oppose organisational innovations. However, the fact that the implementation of intermodal linertrains seems to be unrealistic today should not discourage policy makers and stakeholders. System innovations are long‐termprocesses and there are indications that the transition process has started. Continuously increasing freight transport volumes and a significantly increased awareness for sustainable development put the dominating road freight transport paradigm under pressure. As a response, transport politics, transport buyers, and transport operators show an increased interest in intermodal transport. Hence, the current barriers should be seen as challenges to overcome rather than as impediments to progress. To manage the transition towards innovative intermodal transport services and to overcome current barriers, there is a need for connecting the existing dynamics by applying the technological innovation in the existing large‐scale production system. These niche‐applications do not require major changes of transport and logistics structures and can provide room for technological learning and development which is needed to reduce economic uncertainties and risks involved in technological innovations. A promising approach is a new‐generation large scale hub terminal for seaport hinterland flows, since the raiload technology can contribute to solving existing efficiency and capacity problems in this segment of the transport market.
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8. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
-
Recent developments in urban logistics research – a review of the proceedings of the International Conference on City Logistics 2009 – 2013
- 2016
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In: Transportation Research Procedia. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-1465 .- 2352-1457. ; 12, s. 278 - 287
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper reviews research published in the proceedings of the International Conferences on City Logistics in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The purpose is to analyse its relevance to urban logistics problems and to identify gaps. The results indicate that the research addresses mainly urban distribution problems from the authority and carrier perspective in a European and Asian context. Three conclusions can be drawn from the review. First, the research has to address a wider range of market segments; second, there is a need for more research from the shipper and receiver perspective; and third, more research addressing Asian and especially African cities is necessary.
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9. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Sustainable Freight Transport from an Urban Perspective
- 2009
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The trend of growing road freight transport causes significant negative impacts on the society, economy and environment. A substantial share of the road freight sector’s externalities is imposed on urban areas because cities are the main destination for freight flows either for production, consumption or for transfer to other locations. City-regions that host centralized transport facilities of inter-regional networks suffer from congestion, noise and air pollution while at the same time the urban context challenges their efficient operation. Urban freight transport networks thus need to adjust to the urban environment and to balance different interest which in turn is likely to have an impact on inter-regional freight transport networks. This thesis aims to explore the relationship between urban freight transport and inter-regional freight transport networks for the sustainable development of the freight transport sector. This thesis is based on a multiple case-study. By means of in-depth interviews with freight transport stakeholders in six cities, the urban context of freight transport and how it affects inter-regional freight transport networks and vice versa is investigated. In a complementary theoretical study the case study findings are applied on intermodal rail-road freight transport with the goal to identify the urban context’s barriers and opportunities for the design of more competitive inter-regional rail transport services.The results confirm the tension in contemporary urban freight transport between local sustainable development and freight transport network performance. Economic interests on the one hand and environmental and social interests on the other hand are perceived as trade-offs and there is no long-term strategy to balance these interests. However, there is indication that adapting freight transport networks to the urban conditions can be beneficial for both the competitiveness of intermodal road-rail transport and local sustainability. Hence, a deeper integration of freight transport and urban sustainability strategies can possibly contribute to more sustainable freight transport.
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10. |
- Behrends, Sönke, 1976
(author)
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Sustainable freight transport principles and their implications for intermodal transport
- 2010
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In: NOFOMA conference, 10-11 June 2010, Kolding, Denmark. ; , s. 1033-1048
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess whether intermodal road-rail transport has the potential to contribute to the sustainable development of the freight transport sector. To achieve this, the paper aims to clarify what sustainable freight transport is and to identify the critical issues in today’s intermodal transport system. Methodology: In a deductive approach principles for sustainable freight transport are developed based on sustainable development concepts and applied on intermodal transport. Findings: Rail has the potential to offer economically and environmentally sustainable freight transport services, but in the present intermodal transport system the economic benefits can only be realised for a minor share of the transport market, and the environmental benefits on a global and regional level are achieved at the expense of higher local impacts. Implications: This article has developed principles of sustainable freight transport and identified the critical issues regarding the sustainability potential of intermodal transport. Further research on implementing innovations in rail transport and on pre- and post haulage in urban areas is needed. What is original/value of paper: This paper presents a holistic definition of sustainable freight transport based on sustainable development principles. The definition is intended to be useful for analysing other transport systems.
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