Development of catchment intermodal terminals (public goods centers) in the Czech Republic following the catchment goods centers in Germany and the area of CADSES, and European intermodal transport corridors

The project of research and development (VaV) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic No. 2A-1TP1/047 deals primarily with design and optimal localization of catchment intermodal terminals in the Czech Republic, following the catchment goods centers in Germany and in the area of CADSES, and European intermodal corridors in order to fulfill the European transport policy supporting intermodality and sustainable development.
Importance of intermodal transport is still growing. Intermodal transport appears to be a convenient way of shifting undesirable trend of transport burden from road transport to other transport modes, or their combination. Intermodal transport relates to logistic centers, some of which are publicly supported (public logistic/goods centers). Czech Republic has so far no experience with this topic. The project is focused mainly on the issue of intermodal terminals as part of public logistic centers.
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
In order to reach the main objective, the project was divided into four stages within the period of 11/2006 – 06/2011.
The first stage was focused in particular on identification and prediction of goods flows and forecast for relations to strategic industrial zones and development areas. It was processed from publicly available information. This stage included analysis of transported goods flows for individual transport modes to and from the Czech Republic. Relations to strategic industrial zones and goods flows in the area of CADSES were revealed. The performed analyses served as the basis for further stages.
 

The second stage identified the European rail and highway transport network and potential for development of air freight transport, location and allocation of catchment intermodal terminals in the Czech Republic with relations to production areas. The European road and rail network is fairly large, but reveals significant qualitative differences for individual state of EU and outside EU. The stage included identification of the transport network TEN-T in the area of CADSES, major infrastructure projects were assessed with their bottle-necks in road, rail and waterway transport. The project in the second stage analyzed also other multimodal priority projects of TEN-T and developing trends and potentials in air transport. Furthermore, conditions of intermodal terminals were analysed for the Czech Republic and selected countries in Europe, particularly in Germany. At the same, quality of relations of terminals and production areas to the backbone network of TEN-T were analysed.
 

The third stage covered national arrangements, capacity of terminals, and economy of terminals of intermodal transport through internalization of external costs for development of intermodal transport. The project identified various layout options, which depend on several factors, mainly on functions of the terminal, mode of transshipment transport, type of goods of transshipment, required capacity, etc. The appropriate choice of layout and localization of a logistic centre can facilitate greater efficiency of provided services of a logistics centre, better connection to main transport arteries or reduction of investment costs. This stage further described disposition arrangement of important terminals in the Czech Republic, completed by a simple scheme of VLC with optimal connection to all transport modes.
 

To determine capacity of terminals and logistic centers, the processor focused on description of models and simulations (e.g. Witness, Arena Professional, Promodel and UGS Tecnomatix Plant Simulation), on the basis of which it is possible to determine capacity parameters, which are of course dependent on operations types carried out in the logistics centre, and also on types of transport modes serving the logistics centre.
An important part of the third stage was economy of terminals. Basic funding options of VLC were described for both the private and the public sector. Basic principles and difficulties of individual financing schemes and their support were characterised.
 

The conclusion presents the issue of internalization of external costs in the transport sector (i.e. costs incurred with elimination of negative impacts of transport on population and the environment related to traffic).
The fourth stage was the final stage. Gathered knowledge from previous stages was utilised to conduct a proposal and assessment of localisation of intermodal terminals (or VLC) in the Czech Republic. At the same time, ways of support for inclusion of these centers of the Czech Republic into the European network were described, and comparison of variants was performed according to various criteria. The conclusion stage was also focused on international work groups, which were established in the course of the project.
CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT
In the context of the entire project, the issue of intermodal terminals (considered as part of VLC) with connection to catchment goods centers in Germany and the area of CADSES, and European intermodal corridors was comprehensively addressed.
 

The Czech Republic has no significant experience with VLC, it has currently only a network of transshipment centers, mainly with combined transport (road –rail) in the private sector. Developed countries of Western Europe, such as Germany, implemented relatively extensive network of VLC (German Güterverkehrszentren – GVZ). It is a network of VLC, where the public interest prefers the most developed serviceability of a particular territory and elimination of negative effects of growing road transport on the environment and public health. Such system is missing in the Czech Republic so far.
Throughout the project, many supporting analyses were conducted, which contributed to the final proposal of optimal localisation of intermodal terminals (or VLC). The proposal was made with regard to connection to the European transport network and the production sector.
As an optimal variant, the network 8 logistic centers was proposed, two of which would be of national importance, the remaining would be regional centers. It includes the following centers: Mělník (the area of Kolín – Mělník), Brno – Horní Heršpice (Jihomoravský region), Ostrava – Mošnov (Moravskoslezský region), Plzeň – Líně (Plzeňský region), Pardubice – Srnojedy (Pardubický region), České Budějovice – Nemanice (Jihočeský region), Přerov (Olomoucký region), Lovosice (Ústecký region). The proposal was made at the level of regions, where there are predefined specific zones suitable for localisation. Decision on specific location of each center must be, however, confronted with actual conditions and current projects in the territory.
For successful establishment of the network of VLC, uniform approach on a regional principle must be ensured, along with financial support from state and public budgets, including resources of EU.
 

Support for construction of VLC is listed in development documents of the Czech Republic (Transport Policy of the Czech Republic for the years 2005-2013, Operational Programme Transport for years 2001-2013, Policy of Regional Development of the Czech Republic 2008, Strategy for Logistics Support from Public Funds in the Czech Republic, and other) and is based on European strategic documents (Transport Strategy 2050, White Paper on Transport and the Project of the Trans-European network TEN-T).
 

Establishing the network of VLC has impact on many sectors, it is therefore necessary to ensure cooperation in utilisation of VLC among MPO (impact on business entities and development of industrial zones), MMR (regional development), MD (impact on modal split) and regional authorities. It is essential to include VLC into solutions of territorial planning documentation of regions – principles of territorial development (ZÚR) and territorial planning documentation (ÚPD). It is also necessary to ensure consistency of transport organization in relation to VLC background, its size, capacity, etc.
The processed project proposes localisation of VLC on the territory of the Czech Republic and examines relations to the European transport network (or the European backbone corridors), catchment logistic centers in countries of CADSES. It supports integration of the European intermodal transport (priority for rail and waterway transport) and thus sustainable mobility, improving the environment through development of intermodal transport, reduction of energy consumption and increasing safety.
 

The importance of the project was emphasized by establishing cooperation and creating international work groups, which common initiatives helped to define, organize, disseminate best practices and experience, and promote issues of VLC development.
(The solution of the entire project was implemented with financial support from state funds provided through the Ministry of Industry and Trade).
Outputs and progress reports from individual stages of the project are provided by the processor on request only.