The APRICOT project has been conceived to meet the challenges set by the Integrated Transport Chain scheme of the 4 FWP to increase the competitiveness of intermodal transport and offering an initial step forward towards the goal of sustainable mobility.
The main results of our work were the following:
-Only the tri-modal chain (besides rail and road) is a good choice for a real reduction of the impact on the environment. The bimodal chain: barge and road, in fact, leaves a heavy impact of the road transport on the alpine environment, which is the most sensitive area along the chain.
-The most effective location of a tri-modal terminal in terms of reduction of external costs produced by the transport modes is Basle, with a reduction of the external costs of about 44% in comparison to Combined Transport, which are the present terms of reference.
-The positive impact is limited to the northern section of the corridor, leaving almost unaltered the present situation across the Alps, since most of the traffic considered is already on rail.
-A more accurate environmental impact assessment would, however, take into account other side effect of a terminals location in the middle part of the Rhine course (Mainz, Mannheim), i.e. the shift of present road transport from those regions to Italy/Switzerland due to an increased supply of Combined Transport services set-up to complete the tri-modal chain.
