The enablers and inhibitors of intermodal rail freight between Asia and Europe

Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management

Volumn 4, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 70-86

  Rodemann, Hendrik ^a   Templar, Simon ^b  

^a Schnellecke Logistics AG and Co KG   (Germany)

^b CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Eurasian landbridge; Intercontinental rail freight; Intermodal transport; Modal shift; Supply chain alternative; Trans Siberian railways

Indexed keywords

COST REDUCTION; DATA STREAMS; SHIPS; SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT;

EURASIAN LANDBRIDGE; INTERMODAL TRANSPORT; MODAL SHIFTS; RAIL FREIGHTS; TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAYS;

FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION;

EID: 84918794421     PISSN: 22109706     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jrtpm.2014.10.001     Document Type: Article

References (87)

1. Adamantiadis, M.P., 2009. Developing Euro-Asian transport links - challenges and opportunities. Available at: (accessed 18.05.13). http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2009/wp5/GE2-wkshp1-Adamantiadis1.pdf.
2. Andersson, E.V., Peterson, A., Törnquist Krasemann, J., 2014. Quantifying railway timetable robustness in critical points. J. rail Transport Planning Manag. 3(3), 95-110.
3. Askins, S., Linderman, M., Rose, J., 2014. Maritime legal issues arising out of trading to Ukraine/Crimea. Available at: (accessed 23.09.14). http://incelaw.com/de/documents/pdf_library/legal-updates/maritime-legal-issues-arising-out-of-trading-to-ukraine-crimea.pdf.
4. Bauer, K., 2008. Is there a market for a container train China - Western Europe? Railway Market, January 2008.
5. Bektas, T., Crainic, T.G., 2007. A brief overview of intermodal transportation. Available at: (accessed 26.09.14). https://www.cirrelt.ca/.../CIRRELT-2007-03.pdf.
6. Binyon M. Chinese silk railroad ambitions. World Today 2013, 69(1).
7. Binyon, M., 2013b. The silk railway: how to link Europe with East Asia? MCClatchy-Tribune News Service, April 2013.
8. Brice D. Central Asian rail corridors offer alternative to the trans-Siberian. Int. Railway J. 2013, 53(2):16-17.
9. Briginshaw D. Asian railways rise to meet the growth challenge. Int. Railway J. 2007, 47(1).
10. Büker, T., 2010. Maps of railway networks. Available at: (accessed 04.05.13). http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps.php.
11. Business Case Studies, 2014. Using PESTLE to design effective strategies. Available at: (accessed 22.06.14). http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/network-rail/using-pestel-to-design-effective-strategies/introduction.html#axzz35O0bwYPh.
12. Ceva Logistics, 2013. CEVA launches new China-Europe railway service. Available at: (accessed 16.05.13). http://www.cevalogistics.com/enUS/aboutus/newsmedia/mediareleases/Pages/release_20_march_2013.aspx.
13. Chang, A., 2011. Antwerp-Chongqing direct rail freight link launched. Available at: (accessed 16.05.2013). http://www.industryleadersmagazine.com/antwerp-chongqing-direct-rail-freight-link%20launched/.
14. Chang, B., 2012. Land bridge to boost Asia-Europe trade, China Daily, December 2012.
15. China Shipping, 2013. Sales and schedules. Available at: (accessed 18.06.13). http://www.china-shipping.de/de/sales.html.
16. Christopher M. Logistics and supply chain management 2011, Financial Times Prentice Hall, Harlow, England. 4th ed.
17. Couto A. The effect of high-speed technology on European railway productivity growth. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2011, 1(1):80.
18. Cullinane K., Toy N. Identifying influential attributes in freight route/mode choice decisions: a content analysis. Transport Res. Part E 2000, 36:41-53.
19. Davydenko, I., Landa Maxta, I., Martens, R., Nesterova, N., Wark, T., 2012. Potential for Eurasia land bridge corridors and logistics developments along the corridors, Research Paper, 6th Framework Programme, European Commission.
20. Deutsch Bahn, A.G., 2014. Bausteine und Bilanz der Bahnreform (German for: Building blocks and balance of the railway reform). Available at: (accessed 01.10.14). https://www.deutschebahn.com/file/2267524/.../bilanz_bahnreform.pdf.
21. Dieter, P., 2010. "Go West" into China. . .carefully. Available at: (accessed 24.09.14). http://www.supplychainquarterly.com/topics/Global/scq2010china/.
22. Dooms M., Verbeke A., Haezendonck E. Stakeholder management and path dependence in large-scale transport infrastructure development: the port of Antwerp case (1960-2010). J. Transport Geogr. 2013, 27:14-25.
23. Emerson M., Vinokurov E. Optimisation of central Asian and Eurasian inter-continental land transport corridors 2009, Centre for European Policy Studies, Eurasian Development Bank.
24. Engdahl, F.W., 2012. Eurasian economic boom and geopolitics: China's land bridge to Europe: the China-Turkey high speed railway, Global Research, April 2012.
25. EPA, 2014. Sulfur dioxide implementation - programs and requirements for reducing sulfur dioxide. Available at: (accessed 24.09.14). http://www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/implement.html.
26. Escobar, P., 2014. The Eurasian Pivot: Is it China's and Russia's Century? Available at: (accessed 23.09.14). http://www.juancole.com/2014/05/eurasian-russias-century.html.
27. Espinosa-Aranda J.L., García-Ródenas R. A demand-based weighted train delay approach for rescheduling railway networks in real time. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2013, 3(3):1-13.
28. European Commission, 2014. European Union, Trade in goods with China. Available at: (accessed 24.09.14). http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113366.pdf.
29. Eurostat, 2013. International trade. Available at: (accessed 10.07.13). http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/newxtweb/mainxtnet.do.
30. Eurostat, 2013b. EU28 deficit in trade in goods with China down to 62bn euro in the first six months of 2013. Available at: (accessed 25.09.14). http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-13-172_en.pdf.
31. Fan B., Roberts C., Weston P. A comparison of algorithms for minimising delay costs in distributed railway traffic scenarios. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2012, 2(2):23-33.
32. FESCO, 2013. Container lines. Available at: (accessed 09.06.13). http://www.fesco.ru/en/clients/schedule/.
33. Freight Business Journal Russian Rail - A Bridge between East and West 2013, Freight Business Journal, January 2013.
34. Gennady F. Container Will Assure RZD's Future Prosperity Railway 2004, Gazette International.
35. Gorshkov T., Bagaturia G. TRACECA - restoration of silk route. Jpn. Railway Transport Rev. 2001, September 2001.
36. Goverde R.M.P., Meng L. Advanced monitoring and management information of railway operations. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2011, 1(1):69-79.
37. Goverde R.M.P., Corman F., D'Ariano A. Railway line capacity consumption of different railway signalling systems under scheduled and distributed conditions. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2013, 3(3):78-94.
38. Gulati, M., 2014. A Chinese silk road runs now through Crimea - Analysis. Available at: (accessed 23.09.14). http://www.eurasiareview.com/27052014-chinese-silk-road-runs-now-crimea-analysis/.
39. Hämäläinen E. Impacts of price revisions on the trans-Siberian railway logistics 2007, Research Paper Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences, Kouvola, Finland.
40. Hastings P. Great railway journeys of the world 1994, Purchasing and Supply Management, June 1994.
41. Heiskanen M. Scandinavia and the Eurasian Land-Bridge 2007, EIR, May 2007.
42. Helle R. Future of rail container transport in Eurasia. GeoJ. Akad. Verlagsgesellsch. Wiesbaden 1977, 3(1):55-60.
43. Hodgkinson P.J. Trans-Asian Railway Route Requirements: Development of the Trans-Asian Railway in the Indo-China and ASEAN Subregion 1996, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations.
44. Ilie E. Baikal-Amur Mainline will 'Specialise' in Taking Over Cargo Trains 2012, Railway Pro, January 2012.
45. Ilie E. New Steps towards a Single Transport between Europe and Asia 2012, Railway Pro, May 2012.
46. IRU, 2013. This is the IRU 2013. Available at: (accessed 27.09.14). http://www.iru.org/cms-filesystem-action?file=mix-publications/E-0308%20AR-2013%20en.pdf.
47. Jack A. Freighters Find the Right Track to Cross Continents 2002, Financial Times London, December 2002.
48. Joong, J., Cho, K., 2007. The Eurasian land-bridge and its impact on global logistics. Available at: (accessed 18.05.13). http://www.deltanualpha.org%20pdfarticles%202007%20Fall%20cho.pdf.
49. Kallas S. Building Bridges: Making More of Rail's Potential to Link Europe and Asia 2012, International Rail Business Forum Sochi, May 2012.
50. Kanai S., Shiina K., Harada S., Tomii N. An optimal delay management algorithm from passengers' viewpoints considering the whole railway network. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2011, 1(1):25-37.
51. Landex A., Wittrup Jensen L. Measures for track complexity and robustness of operation at stations. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2013, 3(3):22-35.
52. Liliopoulou A., Roe M., Pasukeviciute I. Trans Siberian railway: from inception to transition. Eur. Transport 2005, 29:46-56. No. 29/2005.
53. Lin C. China's new silk road to the Mediterranean: the Eurasian land bridge and return of admiral Zheng He 2011, Institut für Strategie-, Politik-, Sicherheits- und Wirschaftsberatung (German for: Institute for strategy, politics, security and economy consulting), No. 165, October 2011.
54. Löhr, D., 2014. German Railway Company: A failed privatization. Available at: (accessed 9.10.14). http://rent-grabbing.com/2014/08/13/german-railway-company-a-failed-privatization/.
55. Luica P. Significant Part of the Freight Volume between Asia and Europe will be Shifted to Railways 2012, Railway Pro, January 2012.
56. Luica P. Black sea region, the most valuable transport connection between Europe and Asia 2012, Railway Pro.
57. Luica P. Baltic States a Gateway to Asia 2013, Railway Pro, January 2013.
58. McKie, R., 2013. China's voyage of discovery to cross the less frozen north. Available at: (accessed 25.09.14). http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/18/china-northeastern-sea-route-trial-voyage.
59. Nothias J.C. Train Travel: The New Golden Age 2011, SNCF Connections, No. 5, October-November 2011, pp. 34-35.
60. Novikova K.K.A., Kennedy O.R. New Eurasian land bridge: an evaluation of efficiency characteristics. Global J. Bus. Manag. Acc. 2012, 2(1).
61. Oliphant, R., 2012. Russian's push 'land bridge', new line to Vienna. Available at: (accessed 15.05.13). http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russians-push-land-bridge-new-line-to-vienna/459752.html.
62. O'Reilly, J., 2011. Global logistics - October 2011. Available at: (accessed 15.05.13). http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/global-logistics-october-2011/.
63. Otsuka S. Central Asia's rail network and the Eurasian land bridge. Jpn. Railway Transport Rev. 2001, 42-49. No. 28.
64. Petrov, I., 2012. The trans-siberian rail (TSR) corridor, unpublished presentation by FIATA working group rail sent to the author by Robert Keen, Executive Director of British International Freight Association, 25th April 2013.
65. Rai, N., 2013. Shipping firms abandon Iranian routes. Available at: (accessed 19.05.13). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324659404578503331540834110.html#.
66. Ramstad, E., 2006. Intel Pushes Chip Production Deep Into China's Hinterlands. Available at: (accessed 24.09.14). http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB114834585532860183#.
67. Rodrigue J.P., Comtois C., Slack B. The Geography of Transport Systems 2013, Routledge, New York, USA. 3rd ed.
68. Rodrigue, J.P., Comtois, C., Slack, B., 2013. The geography of transport systems. Available at: (accessed 16.05.13). http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/.
69. Rohrhofer, E., Patzner, W., 2009. Der Weg nach Ostasien über die Transsibirschen Eisenbahn (German for: The way to East Asia via the trans-Siberian railway). Available at: (accessed 17.05.13). http://portal.wko.at/?480686.
70. Rousseau, R., 2012. From Shanghai to Rotterdam: the new iron silk road. Available at: (accessed 17.05.13). http://www.diplomaticourier.com/news/regions/asia/321-the-new-iron-silk-road.
71. Rushton A., Croucher P., Baker P. The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management 2010, Kogan Page Limited, Philadelphia, USA. 4th ed.
72. RusTroyka, 2012. Container train schedule for FESCO Moscow shuttle service. Available at: (accessed 9.06.13). http://www.rus-troyka.com/timetable_vladivostok_moskva/index_en.php5.
73. Searates.com, 2014. Distances and Time on your website. Available at: (accessed 01.10.14). http://www.searates.com/de/reference/portdistance.
74. Shin-Kyuo, L., 2004. Transportation network and logistics system for increasing trade between Russia and Korea. Available at: (accessed 16.05.13). http://mion.isu.ru/filearchive/mion_publcations/sib_kor/17.htm.
75. Shirres D. Trans Siberian Landbridge 2011, The Rail Engineer, December 2011.
76. Slack, B., 2000. Eurasian land bridges: opportunities, constraints and challenges. Available at: (accessed 17.05.13). http://www.earoph.info/pdf/2000papers/20.pdf.
77. Tennenbaum J. The New Eurasian Land-Bridge Infrastructure Takes Shape 2001, EIR, November 2001.
78. Thompson L.S., Kohon J.C. Developments in rail organization in the Americas, 1990 to present and future directions. J. Rail Transport Planning Manag. 2012, 2(2):51-62.
79. Trans Eurasia Express, 2012. The trans Eurasia express - the new transport solution between Asia and Europe. Available at: (accessed 18.05.13). http://www.trans-eurasia-logistics.com.
80. Tskitishvili, M., 2013. Rotterdam Moscow rail link, unpublished power point presentation sent to the author by Ms. Irina Birman, Owner Tran-Siberian Railway Connection, 25th April 2013.
81. Tsuji H. The Tide Turns for Trans-Siberian Rail Transport 2010, UNECE Working Party on Rail Transport, Vienna, Austria, 18-19th November 2010.
82. Uyanayev S. Transportation Routes in Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Russia 2008, EIR, January 2008.
83. Vannieuwenhuyse B., Gelders L., Pintelon L. An online decision support system for transportation mode choice. Logistics Inf. Manag. 2003, 16(2):125-133.
84. Weitz R. Sino-Kazakh ties on a roll. China Brief 2013, 13(2).
85. World Shipping Council, 2013. Container cargo capacity. Available at: (accessed 9.06.13). http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/liner-ships/container-cargo-capacity.
86. Yang R.J. An investigation of stakeholder analysis in urban development projects: empirical or rationalistic perspectives. Int. J. Project Manag. 2014, 32:838-849.
87. Zhang, X.L., Yin, Y.L., Ao, G.J., Zhang, X.D., 2013. Research on functional demands of urban integrated transportation hub project based on the stakeholder theory: a case study of Tianjin station. Available at: (accessed 22.06.14). http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-642-37270-4_75.