Ecmt Round Tables European Integration Of Rail Freight Transport

The Round Table looks at how the European railway landscape is being reshaped. In doing so, it presents lessons which stand to benefit transport policy throughout Europe.

The Round Table discussed the role of the transport sector in supporting regional economic integration. The event was hosted by the Hellenic Institute of Transport, Thessaloniki.

Europe's rail-freight market is undergoing sweeping changes. While an expanding long-distance export market is favorable to rail transportation, railways have been steadily losing market share to the truck industry. The reasons for this are numerous and range from a sub-standard quality of service, lack of advanced computer technology and transport logistics, and a shortage of commercial marketng technique. As rail networks open up to competition, new rail firms are springing up. Will the current operators keep pace with change or are they threatened with extinction? Are new firms going to be commercially viable in areas in whcih traditional operators have always failed? The Round Table attempted to answer these questions by taking a look at how the European railway landscape is being reshaped. In doing so, it learned lessons which stand to benefit transportation policy throughout Europe.

Based on a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the railways in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in the Commonwealth of Independent States, this Round Table comes to a series of inescapable conclusions.

Round Table 106 assesses the state of intercity transport markets in central and eastern European countries after a period of five to six years of reform.

Round Table 99 undertook a thorough analysis of the potential impact of environmental protection, railway privatisation, logistical requirements and falling prices on the structure and operation of the freight transport sector, and of their effects on government policies.

This Round Table revisits the extended literature on the valuation of passenger time and discusses the under-researched topic of the value of time in freight transport.