Special issue on freight: Part 2

Abstract

Abstract

Most railways in the world (at least in terms of route km) are concerned primarily with the carriage of freight. Freight railways can make a substantial contribution to the welfare of society by allowing the efficient and effective movement of goods over long distances with minimal impact on the environment. This role of the rail mode should not be neglected even though passenger services dominate main line railway operations in some European countries (e.g. Britain) and in parts of Asia (e.g. Japan), especially in urban areas.

In the Editorial to Part 1 of the Special Issue on Freight (Proceedings Part F, 1999, 213(F4)) the author dwelt briefly on the problems facing the operators of rail-based transport in freight markets world-wide. The market share of the rail mode has been declining world-wide since the 1960s, perhaps with the exception of long-haul freight in the United States and China, and to some extent in Russia. Poor reliability, punctuality and extended transit times are some of the reasons for this decline. There are encouraging signs of a recovery in some areas, largely, however, because of reduced performance of rail's main competitors.

Railways must re-establish themselves as the carrier of choice by the adoption of better technologies and the development of new operational approaches. The present issue of the Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit is therefore focused on solutions for the challenges facing freight railways. A brief overview of the current state of railways in Europe and an assessment of the most important drivers for change and conditions for success may serve as an introduction to Part 2 of the Special Issue on Freight.