© international road transport union (iru) 2004 page 1 opportunities & advantages of intermodal...

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2004

Opportunities & AdvantagesOpportunities & Advantagesof Intermodal Transport between of Intermodal Transport between

Europe & AsiaEurope & Asia

Opportunities & AdvantagesOpportunities & Advantagesof Intermodal Transport between of Intermodal Transport between

Europe & AsiaEurope & Asia Kiev, 28 September 2004Kiev, 28 September 2004Kiev, 28 September 2004Kiev, 28 September 2004

Hubert LinssenHubert LinssenGeneral DelegateGeneral Delegate


• 1948 - IRU founded in Geneva 1948 - IRU founded in Geneva

• 1956 - IRU Liaison Committee established1956 - IRU Liaison Committee established

• 1973 - IRU Liaison Committee to the EU established in 1973 - IRU Liaison Committee to the EU established in BrusselsBrussels

• 1998 - IRU Liaison Committee to the CIS established in 1998 - IRU Liaison Committee to the CIS established in MoscowMoscow

• 1948 - IRU founded in Geneva 1948 - IRU founded in Geneva

• 1956 - IRU Liaison Committee established1956 - IRU Liaison Committee established

• 1973 - IRU Liaison Committee to the EU established in 1973 - IRU Liaison Committee to the EU established in BrusselsBrussels

• 1998 - IRU Liaison Committee to the CIS established in 1998 - IRU Liaison Committee to the CIS established in MoscowMoscow

Evolution of the IRU StructureEvolution of the IRU StructureEvolution of the IRU StructureEvolution of the IRU Structure


Evolution of IRU MembershipEvolution of IRU MembershipEvolution of IRU MembershipEvolution of IRU Membership

BelgiumBelgium DenmarkDenmark FranceFrance NetherlandsNetherlands

NorwayNorway SwedenSweden UKUK SwitzerlandSwitzerland

LaeremansLaeremans

20042004

174 Members174 Members 67 Countries 67 Countries

20042004

174 Members174 Members 67 Countries 67 Countries

CreatedCreated1948 1948

8 Founder 8 Founder States:States:

CreatedCreated1948 1948

8 Founder 8 Founder States:States:


Main Areas of IRU Activity Main Areas of IRU Activity Main Areas of IRU Activity Main Areas of IRU Activity

Representing Road Transport Industry (Employers) Representing Road Transport Industry (Employers) worldwideworldwide

Leadership for the Road Transport Industry in key Leadership for the Road Transport Industry in key issuesissues

Managing the TIR system administration Managing the TIR system administration

Commercial Services to the Road Transport Industry Commercial Services to the Road Transport Industry through separate companies, such asthrough separate companies, such as

Providing Information Services for Members, viaProviding Information Services for Members, via

Representing Road Transport Industry (Employers) Representing Road Transport Industry (Employers) worldwideworldwide

Leadership for the Road Transport Industry in key Leadership for the Road Transport Industry in key issuesissues

Managing the TIR system administration Managing the TIR system administration

Commercial Services to the Road Transport Industry Commercial Services to the Road Transport Industry through separate companies, such asthrough separate companies, such as

Providing Information Services for Members, viaProviding Information Services for Members, via

Vialtis

www.iru.org

http://www.vialtis.com/

http://www.iru.org/


Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable DevelopmentSustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Technical progress to build more efficient vehicles and Technical progress to build more efficient vehicles and less polluting fuelsless polluting fuels

Improved logistics processImproved logistics process

Improved intermodal cooperationImproved intermodal cooperation

Technical progress to build more efficient vehicles and Technical progress to build more efficient vehicles and less polluting fuelsless polluting fuels

Improved logistics processImproved logistics process

Improved intermodal cooperationImproved intermodal cooperation

For the IRU, the promotion of sustainable development For the IRU, the promotion of sustainable development should include:should include:


Intermodal transportIntermodal transportIntermodal transportIntermodal transport

Road is complementary and indispensable, with rail, Road is complementary and indispensable, with rail, maritime or inland waterways, for transport over long maritime or inland waterways, for transport over long distancesdistances

The importance of reinforcing links between Europe and The importance of reinforcing links between Europe and AsiaAsia

Road is complementary and indispensable, with rail, Road is complementary and indispensable, with rail, maritime or inland waterways, for transport over long maritime or inland waterways, for transport over long distancesdistances

The importance of reinforcing links between Europe and The importance of reinforcing links between Europe and AsiaAsia


Combined Transport (1)Combined Transport (1)Combined Transport (1)Combined Transport (1)

The IRU supports combined transport as a complete The IRU supports combined transport as a complete transport management system supplementing transport management system supplementing traditional road transporttraditional road transport

There are no economically viable alternatives to road There are no economically viable alternatives to road over short distances – road is always the indispensable over short distances – road is always the indispensable partner in all types or road transport.partner in all types or road transport.

The IRU supports combined transport as a complete The IRU supports combined transport as a complete transport management system supplementing transport management system supplementing traditional road transporttraditional road transport

There are no economically viable alternatives to road There are no economically viable alternatives to road over short distances – road is always the indispensable over short distances – road is always the indispensable partner in all types or road transport.partner in all types or road transport.


Combined Transport (2)Combined Transport (2)Combined Transport (2)Combined Transport (2)

The transport of dangerous goods – a good example of The transport of dangerous goods – a good example of combined transport using rail-road – especially over combined transport using rail-road – especially over trans-continental distancestrans-continental distances

Specific problems subsist at terminals which prevent Specific problems subsist at terminals which prevent more use of combined transportmore use of combined transport

The transport of dangerous goods – a good example of The transport of dangerous goods – a good example of combined transport using rail-road – especially over combined transport using rail-road – especially over trans-continental distancestrans-continental distances

Specific problems subsist at terminals which prevent Specific problems subsist at terminals which prevent more use of combined transportmore use of combined transport


Intermodal transhipping (1)Intermodal transhipping (1)Intermodal transhipping (1)Intermodal transhipping (1)

Lack of facilities for intermodal transhipping and red Lack of facilities for intermodal transhipping and red tape at border crossings are prejudicial to international tape at border crossings are prejudicial to international trade and combined transporttrade and combined transport

Rail is only an option if the following are avoided:Rail is only an option if the following are avoided:

• fractioning of shipmentsfractioning of shipments

• delaysdelays

• damage to goodsdamage to goods

Lack of facilities for intermodal transhipping and red Lack of facilities for intermodal transhipping and red tape at border crossings are prejudicial to international tape at border crossings are prejudicial to international trade and combined transporttrade and combined transport

Rail is only an option if the following are avoided:Rail is only an option if the following are avoided:

• fractioning of shipmentsfractioning of shipments

• delaysdelays

• damage to goodsdamage to goods


Intermodal transhipping (2) Intermodal transhipping (2) Intermodal transhipping (2) Intermodal transhipping (2)

Multi-modal platforms must be developed with:Multi-modal platforms must be developed with:

• Reception and information servicesReception and information services

• Parking areas for heavy goods vehiclesParking areas for heavy goods vehicles

• Freight officeFreight office

• Transit centreTransit centre

• WarehousesWarehouses

• Container loading and unloading installationsContainer loading and unloading installations

Multi-modal platforms must be developed with:Multi-modal platforms must be developed with:

• Reception and information servicesReception and information services

• Parking areas for heavy goods vehiclesParking areas for heavy goods vehicles

• Freight officeFreight office

• Transit centreTransit centre

• WarehousesWarehouses

• Container loading and unloading installationsContainer loading and unloading installations


Combined Transport risksCombined Transport risksCombined Transport risksCombined Transport risks

Rail-road, sea-road, river-road combined services all Rail-road, sea-road, river-road combined services all incur increased costs through:incur increased costs through:

• Load fractioningLoad fractioning

• Increased risk of damage to goodsIncreased risk of damage to goods

• Lengthy delaysLengthy delays

• Imprecise timingsImprecise timings

• Lack of technical harmonisation (boxes)Lack of technical harmonisation (boxes)

• Lack of legal harmonisationLack of legal harmonisation

• Red tape at borders Red tape at borders

Rail-road, sea-road, river-road combined services all Rail-road, sea-road, river-road combined services all incur increased costs through:incur increased costs through:

• Load fractioningLoad fractioning

• Increased risk of damage to goodsIncreased risk of damage to goods

• Lengthy delaysLengthy delays

• Imprecise timingsImprecise timings

• Lack of technical harmonisation (boxes)Lack of technical harmonisation (boxes)

• Lack of legal harmonisationLack of legal harmonisation

• Red tape at borders Red tape at borders


Priorities for governmentsPriorities for governmentsPriorities for governmentsPriorities for governments

Governments must :Governments must :

• Encourage the establishment of international facilitation Encourage the establishment of international facilitation measuresmeasures

• Remove obstacles at bordersRemove obstacles at borders

• Establish a legal regime for multimodal transport with sea linksEstablish a legal regime for multimodal transport with sea links

• Flexible transit conditionsFlexible transit conditions

• Harmonised and flexible border crossing conditionsHarmonised and flexible border crossing conditions

Governments must :Governments must :

• Encourage the establishment of international facilitation Encourage the establishment of international facilitation measuresmeasures

• Remove obstacles at bordersRemove obstacles at borders

• Establish a legal regime for multimodal transport with sea linksEstablish a legal regime for multimodal transport with sea links

• Flexible transit conditionsFlexible transit conditions

• Harmonised and flexible border crossing conditionsHarmonised and flexible border crossing conditions


Conclusion (1)Conclusion (1)Conclusion (1)Conclusion (1)

National Authorities, together with IRU Member National Authorities, together with IRU Member Associations present in the Euro-Asian region, must Associations present in the Euro-Asian region, must take steps to promote road transport, as well as its take steps to promote road transport, as well as its modal partners, and remove remaining obstacles to modal partners, and remove remaining obstacles to respond to needs to develop commercial and economic respond to needs to develop commercial and economic relations between Asia and Europe.relations between Asia and Europe.

National Authorities, together with IRU Member National Authorities, together with IRU Member Associations present in the Euro-Asian region, must Associations present in the Euro-Asian region, must take steps to promote road transport, as well as its take steps to promote road transport, as well as its modal partners, and remove remaining obstacles to modal partners, and remove remaining obstacles to respond to needs to develop commercial and economic respond to needs to develop commercial and economic relations between Asia and Europe.relations between Asia and Europe.


Conclusion (2)Conclusion (2)Conclusion (2)Conclusion (2)

InnovationsInnovations to develop ever more effective at to develop ever more effective at source technical measures and operating practicessource technical measures and operating practices

IncentivesIncentives to encourage transport operators to to encourage transport operators to accelerate the introduction of the best available accelerate the introduction of the best available technology and practices for combined transporttechnology and practices for combined transport

InfrastructureInfrastructure to remove bottlenecks and missing to remove bottlenecks and missing links on Euro-Asian transport corridorslinks on Euro-Asian transport corridors

InnovationsInnovations to develop ever more effective at to develop ever more effective at source technical measures and operating practicessource technical measures and operating practices

IncentivesIncentives to encourage transport operators to to encourage transport operators to accelerate the introduction of the best available accelerate the introduction of the best available technology and practices for combined transporttechnology and practices for combined transport

InfrastructureInfrastructure to remove bottlenecks and missing to remove bottlenecks and missing links on Euro-Asian transport corridorslinks on Euro-Asian transport corridors

The IRU’s 3 “i” strategy:The IRU’s 3 “i” strategy:The IRU’s 3 “i” strategy:The IRU’s 3 “i” strategy:

© international road transport union (iru) 2004 page 1 opportunities & advantages of intermodal...

Documents