Intermodal transportation doesn't get pushed by the EU enough.

"The intermodal sector should be bold and make a case for the sector in Brussels and at home," said Barbara Thaler, Tyrolean Member of the European Parliament and TRAN Committee member at the start of the European Intermodal Summit. An innovative digital event held by the UIRR took place on Wednesday, November 30.

A dozen intermodal CEOs and two commission administrators of the unit made up the three panels, which provided practical standards and listed the accomplishments of the past decade.

The event got followed by several short presentations given by CEOs and some of the industry representatives. Most of the decision-makers agreed that intermodal transportation is the most logical step towards the future. The main topics of negotiations included discussions about

• Decarbonization
• Standardization
• Digitalization
• Labor efficiency

UIRR as an event proved the importance of expanding the intermodal sectors and therefore reaching its full potential. 

The convention opening ceremony got organized by DG MOVE Director-General Henrik Hololei, who stated that in the plans of the European Union, intermodal transport has a leading role to play. To reach these goals, the Commission suggests modernization of the current infrastructure and construction of new unique sectors for intermodal transportation such as transshipment terminals, etc. 

The Commission also stated that the P400 loading gauge gets considered as one of the attainable upgrades, which could boost connectivity of the rail infrastructure.

The initiatives in standardization and digitalization that came from the intermodal sector will understandably get initiated by the European Commission.

Intermodal rail infrastructure is now the most crucial growing production operation since the Economic crisis of 2009. 

"Several initiatives focused on digitalization and standardization will add to the Combined Transport productivity enhancement, while the European Union will provide vital funding through its programs the Connecting Europe Transport (CEF-Transport) 2 program, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the InvestEU, and the Horizon 2020 programs," said Mr. Hololei

President of the European Shippers Council, Denis Choumert, expressed his expectations. He also told his opinion on many of the visions that are yet to get fulfilled. Mr. Choumert also voiced his critiques regarding the Handbook for International Contingency Management and that it has not got fully applied yet. The same Handbook, which got published after the Rastatt disaster.