The LessThanWagonLoad project has the objective to develop a smart specialized logistics cluster for the chemical industry in the Port of Antwerp in order to shift transport volumes from road to rail freight.
This objective will be realised by developing: (i) a new rail transport solutions for single pallets (we call this LWL ‘less than wagon load’ in analogy with existing LTL ‘less than truck load’ transport) and (ii) new added value rail freight services for the industry within the Antwerp chemical cluster. These potential new services consist of parking, repair, picking and cleaning for chemical wagons, rail connected cross docking of pallets and improved rail connections by setting up mixed trains with conventional and maritime container volumes. Realising the LessThanWagonLoad project will contribute in a substantial way in realizing the EC’s ambition to shift 30% of road freight over 300km to low-emission modes by 2030. The potential benefits of the project for European society are very important and diverse: (i) environmental improvements (less GHG emissions), (ii) reduced costs of rail freight, (iii) increased inter-modality and higher resilience of the transport system, (iv) local economic growth and employment, (v) less congestion and traffic casualties and (vi) less risk on social dumping.
To the best of our knowledge no real LWL concept exists on rail. Due to higher operational costs this concept was never feasible nor competitive with the truck. To tackle this issue the consortium will develop an automated loading system to limit the handling costs of these pallets and at the same time search for viable destinations and partners at the other end of the stretch.
The project primarily focuses on Antwerp and the chemical industry. As major logistical hub in Europe, it is strategically positioned and connected to 3 of the 9 TEN-T freight corridors. With presence of 11 of the 15 largest chemical companies in the world, Antwerp is the largest chemical cluster in Europe. Despite the fact that Antwerp is well connected with low-emission transport networks such as inland waterways and rail, most transport of intermediate or finished chemical products is still done by truck, leading to important CO2 emissions, air pollution and road congestion in and around Antwerp. Nevertheless the focus lies on the Antwerp cluster, the new concepts can also be leveraged to other logistical hubs with other industries. This will be demonstrated at a second logistical hub Nola, in the south of Italy. This broad implementation potential increases the impact on European society.
The consortium partners are highly ambitious in developing ground-breaking concepts (e.g. LWL), but also in developing new technology (e.g. automated loading of wagons) and in working out collaborative business models to bundle volumes and maximise equipment utilisation within the cluster. The consortium consists of 11 partners, from 5 member states. It has been carefully set up to combine the necessary multidisciplinary competences to realise the objectives. There is a balanced mix between research institutes, technology suppliers, freight operators and the chemical industry.
The consortium is highly motivated to achieve the modal shift by working out rail products and services for the industry that outperform other transport solutions. It would be an honour for the consortium to start this exciting project with full support of the European Commission.
