Conclusions of the Seminar

摘要

1. What role should railway undertakings play in the logistics chain? 2. Rail, a credible partner on the freight market 3. Rail freight networks for a Greater Europe 4. Towards a new production system and new partnerships. Views differed on the place of railway enterprises in the logistics chain. Whilst some people consider that railways should concentrate on their core business as carriers and remain a reasonable size, others hold the view that the various components of the logistics chain should be combined within a single group or, better still, a single company. By contrast, it is clear that rail has everything to gain from improving its cooperation with the seaports and developing the necessary intermodal infrastructure in these ports. Maritime shipping and rail transport present similarities (not least the huge loads they handle) and the potential for growth in this sector has yet to be exploited to the full. As regards the services offered, it is admittedly in the interests of the railway enterprises to offer standard product ranges. By doing so, they can optimise the use of their production resources and thereby drive down their costs. But this approach should not preclude flexibility, in particular in relation to key customers, or even the development of tailor-made solutions negotiated with particular customers.