The Future of Intermodal Freight Transport: Operations, Design and Policy
Author(s): Rob Konings (Editor), Hugo Priemus (Editor), Peter Nijkamp (Editor)
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Publication Date: July 30, 2008
Language: English
Print length: 360 pages
ISBN-10: 1845422384
ISBN-13: 9781845422387
Book Description
This book explores the great challenge of increasing the scope of intermodal freight transport. In view of the current dominant role of road transport and the increasing difficulties in coping with a growing number of vehicles in an efficient and sustainable way, intermodal freight transport could be considered a viable alternative. However, the book makes recognition of the fact that there is still a need to improve the performance of the intermodal transport system.
The expert contributors provide an overview of the present role of intermodal freight transport, address opportunities to significantly improve current performance, and demonstrate design and modelling tools used to analyse and support this performance. Requirements for the implementation of intermodal innovations are also prescribed, and policies needed to improve competitiveness are outlined.
Many factors contributing to the performance and competitiveness of intermodal freight transport are explored, from technological and organisational innovations through to institutional settings and policy frameworks. This comprehensive range of topics will attract a broad audience including academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners involved in the design and development of freight transport systems. It will also strongly appeal to those with an interest in the future of freight transport.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘. . . the book will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners.’ — Competition and Regulation in Network Industries
‘The book is well balanced. . . The authors depict the reality of this complex world and identify the right strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.’ — Bart Jourquin, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research
‘. . . the editors and the expert contributors provide a timely overview of the present role and challenges of intermodal freight transport. . . the book will not only be appealing to academics and researchers with an interest in the emerging field of intermodal transport research. As the book is largely kept at an executive and policy level, it is also appealing to practitioners and policy makers. . . the book is a valuable contribution to the study of intermodal freight transport as a new transportation research application field. It is an essential reading for all stakeholders in the field of intermodal freight transportation, providing them with insight and tools to address the mounting academic and practical challenges in this segment of the transport and logistics market.’ — Theo Notteboom, Journal of Transport Geography
About the Author
Edited by Rob Konings, Senior Researcher, Freight Transport Systems, OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies, Delft University of Technology, Hugo Priemus, Professor Emeritus of System Innovation and Spatial Development, Delft University of Technology and Peter Nijkamp, Professor Emeritus, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the Centre for European Studies, Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iasi, Romania and the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, China