Outcome of the highly successful webinar on enhancing intermodal highways across Europe. Industry leaders discussed the pivotal role of infrastructure, digitalization, and collaboration in revolutionizing transportation networks.
News | 09/12/2024
Improving Intermodal Highways Across Europe
On 8 November 2024, the EPCA Supply Chain Committee brought together key industry players for a webinar on intermodality, titled “Improving Intermodal Highways Across Europe”. During the webinar, they highlighted the critical role of infrastructure, digitalization, and collaboration in enhancing Europe’s transportation networks.
The session was opened and chaired by Jan Arnet, Group CEO of Bertschi and chair of the EPCA Intermodal Transportation Network, who emphasized the importance of infrastructure investments, cost management, and sustainability in intermodal logistics. He noted that a survey run by Deloitte in 2024 that revealed that 78% of participants believe the full potential of intermodal transportation is yet to be realized, underscoring the need for continued innovation and investment.
This was complemented by Jan-Jacob Blussé, Manager Supply Chain & Network Operations at Deloitte, who provided an overview of the ITN’s April workshop and progress since. Despite challenges such as cost pressure and service levels, there is a strong long-term commitment to intermodal transportation, with opportunities in intermodal rail transportation.
Participants were then presented with some industry insights from leading rail intermodal operators, Kombiverkehr and Hupac, who share some of their developments and recommendations for improving resilience and operational efficiency. Heiko Krebs from Kombiverkehr highlighted the challenges posed by infrastructure conditions and the strategic shift towards more diverse traction providers. He underlined the importance of digitalization and transparency in the logistics chain to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. He also mentioned the transformation process within Kombiverkehr, which involves deeper integration into railway operations and a focus on digital solutions to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Michail Stahlhut, CEO of Hupac, introduced the DXI data hub, a digital communication platform aimed at streamlining intermodal logistics. He emphasized the need for machine-to-machine communication to improve resilience and operational efficiency.
This was complemented by a case study between LKW Walter and Bertschi, who have successfully implemented an intermodal train partnership showcasing the potential of combining different types of cargo to optimize train capacity.
The webinar also featured a brainstorming session where participants discussed the importance of digitalization, integrated solutions, and strategies to promote intermodal transportation. Key topics included the role of digital communication standards and the potential for short sea connections.
The slides of the webinar can be found HERE.
Upcoming Events
The EPCA Intermodal Transportation Network team has scheduled an in-person workshop in Brussels on 18 February 2025 to keep the discussions going. All interested EPCA members are encouraged to participate, share their ideas, and suggest topics for the workshop.
Join the Intermodal Transportation Network!
The EPCA Intermodal Transportation Network is an initiative by our Supply Chain Program Committee to examine opportunities for improvements in intermodal transportation and explore ways the EPCA community can work together to provide mutual support.
If you are interested in registering to receive updates on our work and events, sign up here.
For more information, please contact Lydia Pernal-Stoddart, scpc.committee@epca.eu.
