Flexible rail solutions could threaten waterways' coal freight dominance

摘要

The inland waterways of northern Europe are busy, and set to get busier still. At the same time, new barging techniques are putting additional pressure on the inland waterways network, and global warming is having its effect on water levels. The established canal network does not extend to many European coal users who, with the decline in domestic coal production, will be looking to supplies from the ARA range to replace it. All in all, these are challenging times for Europe's inland waterways. Canal transport is still the lowest-cost way of moving imported coal to Europe's industrial users and power generators. But low cost is not everything in coal transportation. As more users expect not only affordable but also Just-in-Time delivery, is the waterway system's inherent inflexibility becoming a barrier to growth?