Innovative formulas for the intermodal rail service: the NORDOSSOLA case

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Translation:
Maryam Romagnoli Sacchi

The dramatic growth in the international goods trade on the routes between Northern and Southern Europe which has been witnessed over the years until 2008, concentrated primarily in the intermodal segment with two-figure increases, and apparently suffering only briefly from the international economic crisis in 2009.

A few projects started a couple of years ago will be completed within the next few months. They involve combined transport on the transalpine routes, which thanks to innovative management formulas, according to the organizers’ reckoning, allow noticeably lower rates than the usual market rates.

Particularly interesting is the project of the new independent Italian operator NORDOSSOLA, which in due course will start two transalpine rail-links with an innovative managing model, which will be explained in this article and is based on the material, which I have been provided with by NORDOSSOLA.

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Jan. 10th 2011
official start
Domo2<=>Köln
5 trains a week

few last places for
less than 500 €!

Philosophy of the project

The first innovative aspect at the heart of the NORDOSSOLA project is the potential, even for carriers who move smaller volumes of goods on a continuous basis to benefit from the same certainty of train-place and discounted rates as the larger carriers that can organize their own trains.

At the same time, the larger carriers can rely on an additional service of special shipping or, at least, at a cost of up to 20% cheaper than the open-access train service.

According to the formula proposed by Nordossola, the carrier-client acquires, on the basis of a minimum 3 month contract, a stipulated number of “carriages", from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 6, which will be used for their own cargo units or their end-clients’. The train is therefore a sum of many small private trains, and Nordossola is responsible for their coordination and organization at competitive rates in return of a medium to long term commitment from the users of each single part of the train. In fact, the train cost can be estimated on the use of its 100% capacity, guaranteed by the three-month contract, and does not need to compensate for the cost of empty space as in the case of open-access trains.

The limit to the maximum number of wagons per user intends to guarantee equal opportunities for all, so that no user becomes too strong to influence the service at the expense of small users.

The chosen slogan “the carrier carrying carriers” expresses the idea behind this service well.

Nordossola’s intermodal service stands out as it optimizes the rail and road transporters’ relationship on departure and arrival, with the aim of reducing the total transport time and therefore its cost.

This has led to two important strategic choices:

1. Detecting terminals not overloaded with road traffic to eliminate the risk of downtime during in and out waiting.

2. Planning train departure and arrival times to allow the road carrier to have the whole day for the cargo collection and reshipping service.

Overall, the local carrier can reach the terminal by late afternoon of day A, after the arrival of the Nordossola train and then it can collect the cargo unit and take it to the delivery point in time for the destination opening time on the morning of day B, even at a long distance. It will then be able to collect a cargo unit for the return journey and be back at the terminal in time for the evening departure of the Nordossola train on the same day. For long road hauls, that take up to 9-10 hours, it is possible to arrange a daily downtime –free loading/unloading cycle.

Services and schedules

On January 10th 2011 the first NORDOSSOLA TRAIN ORGANIZATION regular service begins with five couples of trains a week (Mon-Fri) on the route Domodossola > Köln-Niehl and viceversa.

Last departure time for delivery: 10.00 pm

Permitted cargo units:

a. trailers of 13.60 meters, including the Mega type; max 28 usable tons

b. containers up to 45 feet; max 29 usable tons

c. swap bodies of 7.15-7.45.7.82 meters; max 14 usable tons

d. tank containers up to 7.82 meters; max 30 usable tons

UIC cargo profile: P/C 400

The second service will most likely start in May 2011, on the route Domodossola > Moerdijk/Rotterdam , with similar characteristics and times to be defined.

For further information and updates please refer to the NORDOSSOLA website.

The train load will be organized by the operator NORDOSSOLA TRAIN ORGANIZATION, whilst the rail, technical and the tractor will be managed by Crossrail from Domodossola to Köln and most likely as far as Venlo (Dutch border) for the Moerdijk train. In Holland, the tractor may be entrusted to ACTS as the traditional rail-line is used to Moerdijk via Boxtel-Tilburg as far as Breda, whereas HGK should be in charge of the tractor from DB rail station to Köln and as far as the terminal.

The Terminals

Domodossola: Terminal Nordossola

Google Earth: 46°04'25.14"N 8°17'25.87"E

image: Nordossola

The space is used solely by Nordossola and is in the rail station Domo II, on the east side. On the outer forecourt it has three 400-meter long service railway tracks for the loading/unloading operations, directly connected to the marshalling yard of the railway station. At present, it can allow to arrange as much as 2-3 trains a day and offers a capacity for increase.

Köln-Niehl Hafen: Terminal CTS

Google Earth: 50°59'04.41"N 6°58'05.19"E

image: CTS website

Located on the Rhine left bank, near the Rhur-Wupper industrial area, this is a water-rail-road system, with three service railway tracks and portal cranes.

Moerdijk / Rotterdam: Terminal MCT

Google Earth: 51°40'51.14"N 4°35'50.52"E

Located at approximately 27 km South-east of Breda is also a water-rail-road system, avoiding the congestion of the most central trailers terminals, it allows to plan the reshipping connections to the Rotterdam quays for the container service.

see more info about MCT >>>>

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Maryam Romagnoli Sacchi

Translation from and into Italian, English and Spanish
Fields: Transport and Shipping, Architecture and Design, Medical, Psychology, Anthropology

contact here

Per informazioni NORDOSSOLA:
contact person
Alexander Gieren
mobile +39 345 2321780
alex@nordossola.com