Rail Freight in Europe: different perspectives on achieving higher service levels.

This study was exploratory in nature, comparing the perceptions of a diverse group of stakeholders on how rail service can be improved. The majority of the RFTC respondents surveyed can be considered new entrants. These RFTCs are more likely to focus on service levels than on efficiency, in contrast to studies that are primarily incumbent-focused (e.g., Wiegmans and Donders 2007).

Most respondents appeared hesitant in providing information about both perceived value, such as customer satisfaction surveys, and financial value, such as operational effectiveness, customer growth, and financial results. The use of dedicated rail freight corridors is still limited in Europe, but steadily increasing. In the future, RFTCs will likely gain in importance compared to other transport modes in exploiting these corridors, and with it the perceptions about the role of RFTCs.

Further research may examine the range of customer-focused services desired, and the facilities required for rail transport to provide such service. Another avenue for further research could be the extent to which developments such as new train configurations support the shift from raw materials to (semi)finished products transport, in line with Hilmola (2006). Also, the effect of growing intermodal transport on the acquisitions and mergers of transport companies, as well as the role of venture capitalists in the strategies of the FTCs, is an interesting topic for further research (Hilmola 2006; Tyrrall 2003). The procurement of rolling stock, time-to-build aspects, and the role of supplier development in a liberalized market also warrant further research (Debrie and Gouvernal 2006; Stehmann and Zellhofer 2004). Appendix A. Rail Freight Elements in Europe

Technical elements

5 major DC Line voltages 0.75kV 1.5kV 3kV

UK (south) NL B

F (south) CZ (north)

E

I

NE Europe

PL

Slow (south) Many Automatic A B CH Train Protection Indusi, LZB TBL, RPS Signum, ZUB Systems (ATP)

DK E F

ZUB 123 Ebicab 900 TVM, KVB

Lux N NL

Indusi pzb/lzb Ebicab 700 ATB eg/ng

S Slow SU

Ebicab 700 Mirelle Ebicab 900 Nr of different 8

catenaries Nr of different 4 Loading gauges

Technical elements

5 major AC Line voltages 15kV 25kV

A CZ (south)

CH DK

D F (north)

N H

S P

SE Europe

Slow (south)

SU

UK (central) Many Automatic CZ D Train Protection Mirelle Indusi pzb/lzb Systems (ATP)

H I

EVM bacc, rsdd

P PL

Ebicab 700 SHP

UK EUR

aws/tpws ETCS 1 + 2 Nr of different

catenaries Nr of different Loading gauges Source: Bombardier Transportation, Department of Product Marketing (2006) Legend: DC indicates direct current; AC indicates alternating current A is Austria; B is Belgium; CH is Switzerland; CZ is the Czech Republic; D is Germany; DK is Denmark; E is Spain; F is France; H is Hungary; I is Italy; Lux is Luxemburg; N is Norway; NL is The Netherlands; P is Portugal; PL is Poland; S is Sweden; Slow is Slowakija; SU is Finland; UK is the United Kingdom; and EUR is the European Countries. NE indicates North East and SE indicates South East. Appendix B. New Locomotive Configurations Available (2007)

Countries

Electric D,A,B,NL 1.5kV 3kV Available by the ATB eg/ng TBL, RPS

end of 2007

F,B,NL 1.5kV 3kV

ATB eg/ng TBL, RPS

TVM, KVB

D,A,CH,I 3kV l5kV

bacc, rsdd Indusi, LZB

Indusi pzb/lzb

Signum, ZUB Already available D,F 1.5kV 15kV

TVM, KVB Indusi pzb/lzb

D,A,CH 15kV

or with Lux Indusi, LZB

Indusi pzb/lzb

Signum, ZUB

Diesel Available in the D,PL Indusi pzb/lzb SHP

near future D,A,CZ,SLOW Indusi pzb/lzb Indusi, LZB Already available D,B,NL,F,PL Indusi pzb/lzb TBL, RPS

D,NL Indusi pzb/lzb ATB eg/ng

Requirements

Electric l5kV 25kV 4 voltages Available by the Indusi, LZB ATB eg/ng 8 ATP's

end of 2007 Indusi pzb/lzb ETCS 1+2

25kV 3 voltages

TVM, KVB 7 ATP's

ETCS 1+2

2 voltages AC/DC

4 ATP's Already available 25kV 3 voltages

TVM, KVB 2 ATP's

1 voltage

3 ATPs

Diesel Available in the

near future Mirelle Already available ATB eg/ng TVM, SHP ETCS

KVB

ETCS 1 + 2 Source: Bombardier Transportation, Department of Product Marketing (2006) Legend: DC indicates direct current; AC indicates alternating current A is Austria; B is Belgium; CH is Switzerland; CZ is the Czech Republic; D is Germany; DK is Denmark; E is Spain; F is France; H is Hungary; I is Italy; Lux is Luxemburg; N is Norway; NL is The Netherlands; P is Portugal; PL is Poland; S is Sweden; Slow is Slowakija; SU is Finland; UK is the United Kingdom; and EUR is the European Countries. NE indicates North East and SE indicates South East.

The authors would like to thank David B. Vellenga for his encouragement and support during the writing of this manuscript.

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