Harmony for intermodal loading units

摘要

The impetus for a such an ambitious project comes from the EC's desire to induce a substantial modal shift of overland freight from road to rail and inland waterway, and the proposed directive is seen by Brussels officials as a necessary addendum to the Commission's much vaunted promotion of shortsea shipping. "Shortsea shipping has proved to be a transport success story with healthy growth rates and we must ensure this continues. The new plan unveiled will help provide real alternatives to road congestion through more efficient and more economical use of other transport modes." said EC transport and energy commissioner Loyola de Palacio at the proposal's launch. Six months is not a long time in Brussels, and as this issue of CS goes to press the European Parliament's rapporteur, Ulrich Stockmann - a German MEP who has previously written reports on inter-modal transport in the EU, as well as what financial assistance should go to projects to promote combined cargo transport -continues to prepare his report to go in front of the legislative assembly. Meanwhile, the Comitc Europeen de Normalisation (CEN), the Brussels-based European standards agency, held a forum on the EC proposals on 2 October.