Rail Freight Network in Europe: Opportunities Provided by Re-launching the Single Wagonload System

Abstract

The market share of Single Wagonload (SWL) transport in Europe is decreasing over time, dropping from 50% to 27% in the last decade, against a trend of total rail traffic which is almost stable. Such a figure, however, is not descriptive of the European context as a whole because in some countries SWL represents a key feeder of the rail freight industry while in other countries its continuation is at risk. This paper investigates the importance of SWL by clarifying its role in the European freight transport sector and identifies a set of short and long-term measures aimed at re-launching such a service.