CORDIS Archive

The Diagnosis Report, dated 1 March 1996, provides a diagnosis of the European transport market from the point of view of transport intermodality. It identifies the obstacles that prevent the development of intermodal freight and passenger transport services in Europe.

The Inventory Report makes an inventory of all past and on-going intermodal-related RTD projects at the EU level as well as some projects at Member State level. The Inventory Report, dated 28 February 1996, also gives an overview of the allocated resources.

The Final Report of 27 September 1996 defines the required RTD actions in view of achieving balanced solutions for the development and improvement of intermodal freight and passenger transport.

The reports reflect the results of consultations with more than 200 external experts and representatives from all interested parties (users, industry, authorities) who were asked to identify and prioritise objectives for research and demonstration activities on intermodal transport.

The report summarises the conclusions of the Task Force clustering meeting of 17 March 1997, to which some 52 RTD projects were invited with the aim of exchanging information and exploring possibilities for closer co-operation.

On 24 March 1997 an ad-hoc configuration of the Task Force High Level Group was invited to give input on six specific questions on intermodal freight transport. The report summarises the meeting's answers to the questions which the Commission posed in view of finalising its Communication on intermodal freight transport.

The 29 May 1997 Communication of the European Commission to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on Intermodality and Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe (COM(97)243) provides a policy framework and programme for Community action in the field of intermodal freight transport. It advocates an intermodal transport system which encourages co-operation between modes and favours competition between operators.

The Questions and Answers were prepared to clarify some questions on intermodal freight transport which may arise from the Communication on Intermodal Freight Transport.