Very long term development of the Dutch Inland Waterway Transport System: Policy analysis, transport projections, shipping scenarios, and a new perspective on economic growth and future discounting

This thesis addresses how a new method for the evaluation of policies with a very long term impact on the Dutch Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) system can be developed. It proposes an outline for a very long term transport model, prepares a number of very long term scenarios, and indicates that a different perspective on economic growth and...

Intermodal Freight Transport on the Right Track?: Environmental and economic performances and their trade-off

This dissertation aims to evaluate environmental and economic performances of an intermodal freight transport system and to estimate the trade-off between CO2 emissions, wich is epresented as an indicator of environmental performance, and freight costs, which ndicate the economic performance of the intermodal freight system. The truck-only...

Intermodal Barge Transport: Network Design, Nodes and Competitiveness

The thesis addresses the opportunities and conditions to increase the market share of intermodal barge transport in Northwest Europe. In particular, it focuses on strategies to improve the performances of the different links of the intermodal transport chain: the barge transport services, the transhipment at terminals and pre- and post-truck...

Capturing socio-technical systems with agent-based modelling

What is a suitable modelling approach for socio-technical systems? The answer to this question is of great importance to decision makers in large scale interconnected network systems. The behaviour of these systems is determined by many actors, situated in a dynamic, multi-actor, multi-objective and multi-level jungle. Models to support such an...

Hub exchange operations in intermodal hub-and spoke networks: A performance comparison of rail-rail exchange facilities

The implementation of hub-and-spoke networks in intermodal transport is suggested as one of the potential solutions for helping to increase the intermodal market share. Traditionally, trains are shunted at hubs; this is a time-consuming process. Since the early 1990s a new type of intermodal terminal, specifically designed for fast tran-shipment...

On Medium Distance Intermodal Rail Transport: A Design Method for a Road and Rail Inland Terminal Network and the Dutch Situation of Strong Inland Shipping and Road Transport Modes