1. Item 7 “Intermodal transport statistics” 06-07 November 2013
Rail Transport Statistics Working Group
06-07 November 2013

2. Intermodal transport: the context
What is “Intermodal transport” ??
The movement of goods in one and the same loading unit/vehicle by successive modes of transport WITHOUT HANDLING THE GOODS THEMSELVES when changing modes.
Sometimes also used: “combined transport”, “transport comodality”, “comodal transport”, “multimodal transport”…..
Rail WG meeting November 2013

3. Intermodal transport: the context
CGST December 2009:
Task Force with a mandate to investigate possibilities for compiling intermodal freight transport statistics at EU level, by looking at studies, projects and initiatives at national, international and EU level – Report to CGST in December 2011
CGST December 2011:
Task Force mandate renewed, investigate the possibility of compiling intermodal statistics in a similar way as done in Germany (application of the “German Approach”) – Report to CGST at the end of 2013
Rail WG meeting November 2013

4. Intermodal transport: the context
Why intermodal statistics?
IDENTIFICATION OF MAIN TRANSPORT CORRIDORS AND THE VARIOUS MODES USED
interest of policy makers has been growing over the years
better identify bottlenecks (cross-modal)
policy monitoring and policy making
give indication for public investment, use of EU funds
Rail WG meeting November 2013

5. 2 basic options to compile intermodal transport statistics
Previous activities: the Task Force has examined various national experiences from Member States
Two options appeared to compile intermodal statistics:
Launch a full-scale new data collection (example: commodity flow survey)
Use existing statistics from different transport modes (especially maritime, RAIL and inland waterway datasets) and combine them in an appropriate way (example: DE)
For pragmatic reasons, the Task Force has chosen the 2nd option for further investigation (the “German Approach”)
Rail WG meeting November 2013

6. Rail WG meeting 06-07 November 2013
The « German Approach »
The Statistisches Bundesamt has been compiling intermodal statistics since 2002, by combining existing modal statistics and applying a number of assumptions
Limited to the transport of containers/ITUs
The aim: an operable method, applicable at short term, using available information. Additional information sometimes collected informally at transport ‘intersections’ (maritime and iww ports, transshipment terminals) for checking assumptions
A simple transport chain:
Origin ---> Transshipment point A ----> Transshipment point B --->Destination
Rail WG meeting November 2013

7. The « German Approach » (2)
In Germany, transport data have been published on the basis of fairly detailed ‘transport sub-regions’ (Verkehrsbezirke – more or less equivalent to NUTS Level 3).
To combine the modal statistics (and to avoid any problem linked to confidentiality), the German Approach does not look at individual transport terminals or transshipment points but at transshipment regions (similar to NUTS Level 3)
More detailed data are often available and are used for checking and validation purposes
Rail WG meeting November 2013

8. The « German Approach » (3)
The method then uses the principle: ‘what comes in must go out’. In other words: ITUs arrive in a transport sub region, and, unless they are unpacked on location, are forwarded onwards.
Therefore, the simplified transport chain is:
Origin --> ‘Transhipment region A’ ---> ‘Transhipment region B’ -->Destination
Data are published by the German Statistisches Bundesamt (Kombinierter Verkehr – Fachserie 8, Reihe 1.3) but are limited to the territory of Germany….
Rail WG meeting November 2013

9. Rail WG meeting 06-07 November 2013
Practical: an example of what can be achieved: incoming container traffic of the Port of Hamburg
Rail WG meeting November 2013

10. Rail WG meeting 06-07 November 2013
Practical: an example of what can be achieved: outgoing container traffic of the Port of Hamburg
Rail WG meeting November 2013

11. Example: Container transport flows to and from Duisburg (in 1000 TEUs)
IWW : 255
of which: Rotterdam : 178
Antwerp : 34
RAIL: 224
of which: Rotterdam : 42
Dortmund: 27
Italy  : 21
ROAD: 386
of which : from Duisburg: 90
from region DU:115
remaining DE: 129
IWW : 221
of which : Rotterdam : 114
Antwerp : 76
RAIL: 228
of which : Rotterdam : 42
Dortmund: 33
Italy  : 20
Antwerp: 18
ROAD: 399
of which : to Duisburg: 90
to region DU:125
remaining DE: 133
DUISBURG
Rail WG meeting November 2013

12. The « German approach » for all??
The Task Force has compared the data used by DE with those stemming from the various transport-related EU legal acts (RAIL, road, sea, IWW)
This analysis has resulted in indications on ‘shortcomings’ in relevant EU legislation, should the German approach be applied at Member State level (the main shortcomings are in RAIL goods transport)
Assumptions used need to be discussed and adapted to each country specific conditions
A generic description has been prepared and sent to all MSs (at the end of July), who are then invited to see if a similar approach can be applied in their country.
Rail WG meeting November 2013

13. Better RAIL data for the «German Approach»?
Obtaining origin-destination data remains generally difficult (sometimes these are partially estimated) even if some countries have on-going research on data availability (beyond the EU legal act)
Confidentiality issues: for some regions at NUTS level 2 and some routes, the number of operators is low and data might become sensitive.
Rail WG meeting November 2013

14. Rail WG 2011 & Intermodal Transport Statistics
Intermodal Transport Statistics and the "German approach" were presented in the Rail WG 2011
Preliminary technical discussions were launched for potential changes to Regulation to overcome the main shortcoming:
Missing link between the type of cargo (ITUs data) and the place of loading/unloading
Rail WG meeting November 2013

15. Rail WG 2011 & Intermodal Transport Statistics
Options:
Option 1:Changes in Annex A
1a) Tables A6, A7, A8: Adding place of loading/unloading
(NUTS 3 level)
1b) Tables A1 and A3: Adding 'Type of cargo' (ITU's/non ITU's) and "place of loading/unloading")
Option 2:Changes in Annex F
2a) Tables F1 and F2: Adding split by type of cargo/type of transport unit and annual collection
2b) Tables F1 and F2: Adding new variable "ITU's/non ITU's" and annual collection
Rail WG meeting November 2013

16. Rail WG 2011 & Intermodal Transport Statistics
Options:
Option 1:Changes in Annex A
1a) Tables A6, A7, A8: Adding place of loading/unloading
(NUTS 3 level)
1b) Tables A1 and A3: Adding 'Type of cargo' (ITU's/non ITU's) and "place of loading/unloading")
Identified by the Task Force as an 'interesting' alternative to be taken into consideration for future changes in RAIL legal acts
Rail WG meeting November 2013

17. Other conclusions of the Task Force
Preliminary conclusions of the Task Force (24-25 October 2013) to be presented to the CGST:
On-going updated list of Intermodal Terminals
Advancements in drawing guidelines for the implementation of German Approach at National level
Invitation to the CGST for asking volunteer countries to implement the German approach as a pilot
Request for extension of the mandate of the Task Force for the follow-up of the pilot project: results and achievements
Coming collection of logistic indicators published at national level
Rail WG meeting November 2013

18. Thank you YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME
Rail WG meeting November 2013