Strategic choices for freight transport confronting European railway companies

摘要

Economic growth has indubitably had a positive effect on the demand for freight transport over recent decades, both in terms of volumes and of distances worked. At the 15th ECMT symposium, held in September 2000, Prof. Giannopoulos came to the conclusion that "an increase in volumes would probably be seen both in general and for individual modes. According to certain forecasts, cross-border traffic was to grow by 2 to 3% per annum, whilst the number of lorries running on the roads of the European Union would probably rise by about 20% by 2010.