Weastflows case study: 05
Comprehensive freight mapping
Major ports in North West Europe
Identifying future opportunities for sustainable and more efficient
Additional regional characteristics such as demographics and land
supply chains requires an understanding of current and planned
use are also included in the analysis to identify potential greener
freight transport infrastructure in North West Europe (NWE). Europe’s
corridors for freight transport. For example, enabling route planners
freight network suffers from congestion and bottlenecks, especially
to avoid built up areas.
on the roads, but available capacity on other modes, presents opportunities to alleviate this growing issue.
One of the aims of this work is to be able to identify strategic infrastructure or projects which should be included in the TEN-T
Weastflows partner, Agence d’Urbanisme de la Région du Havre
(Trans-European Transport Network) network. TEN-T is one of the
et de l’Estuaire de la Seine (AURH), has undertaken comprehensive
most important means of European-wide infrastructure funding,
qualitative and quantative analysis of freight transport infrastructure
which supports a network of key projects to deliver an integrated,
from seven countries across NWE. Using Geographical Information
technology-led and user friendly Europe wide transport system.
System (GIS) data and OpenStreetMap, open data software, this analysis has been transformed into an ‘atlas’ of regional and
AURH has worked with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and
European maps showing the roads, railways, inland waterways
Technology (LIST) to import the atlas’ data sets into an interactive
and coastal infrastructure of NWE, highlighting bottlenecks and
cartography platform to give public access to the mapping and
congestion points as well as routes that are currently under-utilised.
layers. The GeoWeastflows online platform enables users to show
To help transport buyers and suppliers develop greener supply
or hide layers of information on road, rail, inland waterway and short
chains, AURH has also included freight flows by each transport mode
sea shipping transport corridors, typical congestion on routes and
and freight type, identifying where more sustainable alternatives
at modal interchanges in each country. The platform offers users the
could be employed.
ability to save, print and download information and view the maps free of charge. The users are encouraged to upload their own data into the tool to continue to add to the knowledge base, keeping the platform up to date. To access the GeoWeastflows portal, visit http://geo.weastflows.eu.
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Comprehensive freight mapping
Transport corridors across Europe
Concentration levels of railways in North West Europe
Transnational engagement
Lessons and recommendations
Transnational and close collaboration
Currently there isn’t a standardised open
between partners has been a crucial element
source database of European transport
in ensuring the success and relevance of the
logistics information. This activity
logistics data in this analysis. Weastflows
highlighted the importance of using
partners provided logistics data from seven
open source data and sharing common
countries, supported by the freight network
data across NWE to encourage the build
knowledge emerging from the wider project,
of a common vision and inter-operability.
at every stage. The project is using the atlas and analysis Results and benefits
to inform policy recommendations and
The new European Union policy for transport
influence investment and infrastructure
infrastructure, made public in October 2013,
improvements at both regional and EU
lists priorities that the Weastflows project
level. These recommendations, along with
shares as goals, including the development
information on over and under-used routes
of intermodal connections, the reduction
and infrastructure, will be compiled into
of traffic congestion, bottlenecks and
a report, which will be published soon
greenhouse gas emissions.
detailing potential solutions to improve the region’s freight capacity. To access this report
Knowing the characteristics, strengths and
and the range of analysis developed through
weaknesses of NWE freight routes helps
this activity, visit www.weastflows.eu.
logistics and freight operators maximise the use of existing infrastructure capacity
By the end of 2014, the Geoweastflows
and identify alternative transport solutions.
platform was accessed in 17 countries by
Goods can be transported more efficiently
287 users. Given the success of the platform,
and sustainably through more integrated
AURH and LIST will continue its development
multi-modal options, which ultimately helps
by populating it with more data and
reduce transport costs, the environmental
promoting it to industry representatives.
impact and congestion. Feedback from organisations using the analysis to date has been positive. Private stakeholders have said this helps them incorporate more sustainable modes of transport into their logistics activities. They also felt it was important to be able
Weastflows (west and east freight flows) – an INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE) project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – aimed to improve and enhance freight logistics across a west-east axis in the NWE region. The project brought together experts from all sectors of the freight transport industry to work towards connecting supply chains in the region with the wider freight network across the rest of Europe and Asia. Through a combination of freight mapping, innovative technology and a drive to promote sustainable logistics, Weastflows has worked to generate a step-change in the industry. This helps deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to both communities and businesses across the region. Lead partners • CRITT Transport et Logistique (FR) • Institute for Sustainability (UK) Partners • Agence d’Urbanisme de la Région du Havre et de l’Estuaire de la Seine (AURH) (FR) • Beter Bereikbaar Zuidoost-Brabant (BBZOB) (NL) • Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) (NL) • Centre for Quantitative Methods (CQM) (NL) • Communication and Tracking Services (CTS) (FR) • InforIT (NL) • Institut du Droit International des Transports (IDIT) (FR) • Intermodality (UK) • Irish Exporters Association (IEA) (IE) • Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) (IE) • Liverpool John Moores University (LOOM) (UK) • Logistique Seine-Normandie (LSN) (FR) • Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) (LU) • Mobycon (NL) • Portsmouth International Port (UK) • South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) (UK) • Transports Terrestres Promotion Northern France (i-Trans) (FR) • Universität Duisburg-Essen (UNI-DUE) (DE) • University of Science and Technology of Lille (USTL-LAGIS) (FR) • Verband Region Rhein-Neckar (VRRN) (DE)
to contribute their own data to help keep the analysis up to date.
For further information, please contact: Institute for Sustainability 49-51 East Road, London N1 6AH, UK T: +44 (0) 20 7517 1830 E: info@instituteforsustainability.org.uk www.weastflows.eu
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