Lineas offers less than wagon loads

NOT JUST FOR BULK

RAIL • CHEMICAL SHIPPERS MAY SOON BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POTENTIAL TO MOVE SMALL CONSIGNMENTS BY RAIL, FOLLOWING A RESEARCH PROJECT BY ESSENSCIA AND LINEAS

ESSENSCIA, THE BELGIAN chemical industry federation, and rail freight operator Lineas have finalised their ‘LessThanWagonLoad’ research project, designed to facilitate the modal shift to rail in the chemical sector. The study, undertaken by a consortium of industry players and with funding from the EU, has involved the development of a prototype of a new automated pallet loading system for trains as well as a concept for a multimodal logistics hub that includes innovative rail solutions for the chemical industry in the Port of Antwerp.

The LessThanWagonLoad project aims to provide innovative solutions that will help the modal shift of chemical transport from road

THE NEW AUTOMATED PALLET LOADING SYSTEM IS

SEEN AS CRUCIAL TO GET MORE CHEMICALS IN to rail, taking into account the strict security and safety standards applicable to the transport of potentially dangerous goods. Greater use of rail transport is seen as offering a considerable positive societal impact, with lower carbon dioxide emissions, less air pollution and less road congestion.

The study focused on the development of the Antwerp Main Hub into a true multimodal freight village, specifically for the local chemical cluster. The new concept features added-value rail services such as crossdocking pallet warehouses, repair and picking services, advanced cleaning services for chemical wagons, trucks and tank containers, and improved rail connections that combine both conventional and intermodal volumes. These specialised services can remove barriers and reduce the cost of using rail freight.

“The chemical industry has been making efforts to realise a modal shift for several years already. Less than 30 per cent of the transport volumes in the sector are transported by road. Nevertheless, our ambition is loud and clear: even more transport by rail and less by road. That is not so much a question of infrastructure or investments, but mainly about a different mind-set facilitating collaboration and digitisation,” says Yves Verschueren, managing director of essenscia.

ON AND OFF THE TRAIN The consortium also revealed the prototype of the Automated Wagon Loading System (AWLS). Inspired by automated truck loading systems, the system makes it possible to automatically load 15 pallets onto a train wagon. Whereas traditional rail transport typically consists of full containers or wagons, the system will open up rail freight to smaller quantities of chemical products, which currently have to rely on road transport.

“If we want to convince customers to shift from road to rail, we have to make it as easy as possible. Already our Green Xpress Network is allowing customers to get on rail starting from a single container or wagon. With the AWLS technology, we are further decreasing this threshold to even smaller loads,” adds Geert Pauwels, CEO of Lineas.

Speaking at the release of the research report, Pauwels called for broad collaboration between both industry and political partners to develop an ambitious Rail Freight Masterplan for Belgium. Referring to existing masterplans in neighbouring countries, Pauwels highlighted that innovation within the rail freight sector alone would not be enough to realise the modal shift.

“We cannot stay behind as a country,” he said. “It is time to be very ambitious and deliver a Rail Freight Masterplan for Belgium that will safeguard and boost our country as logistical hub in Europe. There is no time for half-hearted plans or lukewarm ideas. We need to be bold and make it happen.” www.lessthanwagonload.eu www.lineas.net