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Using rail to make urban freight distribution more sustainable

Author

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  • Adriano Alessandrini
  • Delle Site, Paolo
  • Francesco Filippi
  • Salucci, Marco Valerio

Abstract

Rail is today a minimally used modality in urban freight distribution. To reap the benefits of this more sustainable transport mode a few experiences in Europe have attempted to introduce innovative freight distribution schemes where rail is used. One of such schemes uses rail for the urban penetration leg. After having been consolidated in a centre located outside the urban area, goods are transported by shuttle trains to a centre located inside the central area (the multi-modal urban distribution centre – MUDC) and there are transferred to low-pollution road vehicles to reach their final destination. Other schemes use tramways. The paper provides a review of rail-based schemes which have been introduced in European cities. An in-depth assessment is provided of the scheme based on the use of a MUDC. The case study relates to the distribution of fish food in Rome. The environmental and energy benefits obtainable from the shift from the current road-only scheme to the MUDC scheme are estimated in physical and monetary units. An estimate is provided of the maximum public contribution that would still make the scheme beneficial for society as a whole, obtained as the difference between the social costs of the road-only scheme and those of the MUDC scheme. Also, an assessment is provided of the profitability of the scheme from the operators? viewpoint.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriano Alessandrini & Delle Site, Paolo & Francesco Filippi & Salucci, Marco Valerio, 2012. "Using rail to make urban freight distribution more sustainable," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 50, pages 1-5.
    • Handle: RePEc:sot:journl:y:2012:i:50:p:5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka Merkisz-Guranowska & Natalya Shramenko & Marcin Kiciński & Vladyslav Shramenko, 2023. "Simulation Model for Operational Planning of City Cargo Transportation by Trams in Conditions of Stochastic Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Isa, Selma Setsumi & Lima, Orlando Fontes & Vidal Vieira, José Geraldo, 2021. "Urban consolidation centers: Impact analysis by stakeholder," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Romualdas Ginevicius & Gintaras Sinkevicius, 2020. "Quantitative Assessment of the Dynamics of Rail Freight Transportation," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 22(54), pages 579-579, April.
    4. Francesco Filippi, 2022. "A Paradigm Shift for a Transition to Sustainable Urban Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-27, March.
    5. De Langhe, Katrien, 2014. "Analysing the Role of Rail in Urban Freight Distribution," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Next Generation Supply Chains: Trends and Opportunities. Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), Vol. 18, volume 18, pages 223-244, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    6. Fumasoli, Tobias & Bruckmann, Dirk & Weidmann, Ulrich, 2015. "Operation of freight railways in densely used mixed traffic networks – An impact model to quantify changes in freight train characteristics," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 15-19.
    7. Garola, Giovanni & Seghezzi, Arianna & Siragusa, Chiara & Mangiaracina, Riccardo, 2022. "Sustainability in urban logistics: A literature review," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Jahn, Carlos & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Changing Tides: The New Role of Resilience and Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management – Innovative Approaches for the Shift to a New , volume 33, pages 709-730, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    8. Cleophas, Catherine & Cottrill, Caitlin & Ehmke, Jan Fabian & Tierney, Kevin, 2019. "Collaborative urban transportation: Recent advances in theory and practice," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 273(3), pages 801-816.
    9. Antonio COMI & Agostino NUZZOLO, 2015. "Modelling Challenges To Forecast Urban Goods Demand For Rail," Transport Problems, Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Transport, vol. 10(4), pages 75-91, December.
    10. Oliveira, Isabela Kopperschmidt de & Meira, Leonardo Herszon & Oliveira, Leise Kelli, 2024. "Key factors for developing freight and passenger integrated transportation systems in Brazil," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

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