The “2018 Report on Combined Transport in Europe” launched on 30 January 2019 as part of a dedicated workshop, is the seventh in this series. It was researched and prepared on behalf of UIC by BSL Transportation Consultants GmbH and provides a thorough insight into the combined transport industry in Europe.

The intermodal rail freight segment has shown an outstanding performance for the last 12 years. This makes intermodal rail freight the only market segment in European total rail freight that is growing at the moment.

This edition contains a focus on the European CT-wagon fleet including current figures as well as the expected trend by the year 2025.
The report also includes spotlight analyses on the development of the hinterland market and seaport activity and on national measures in support of combined transport.

Combined Transport, once again, proves how buoyant a market segment it is with 50% growth (in tonnes) since 2005.

The market dynamics of unaccompanied combined transport are continuing, making it the only growing market segment in total rail freight transport. Since the decline in the context of the global economic crisis in 2009 there was a continuously upward trend, also in the last two years. Compared to the previous years, the positive development picked up speed, with a volume increase in the unaccompanied CT market stronger than some years ago.

Even market disturbances like the 2017 Rastatt incident could not stop and reverse this trend.

The UIC Combined Transport Group (CTG) aims to develop cooperation at international and community level between all Railway Undertakings with a view to advancing and promoting intermodal techniques and making them reliable, competitive and better-suited to the requirements of the market and the environment.

For more information about the 2018 Report or about the Combined Transport Group, please consult the website https://uic.org/combined-transport

Please click below to watch the video of the meeting: