Live Coverage: Intermodal Transport Statistics Webinar

RAILTARGET brings you live coverage from today’s webinar on Intermodal Transport Statistics, part of the EU-funded ReMuNet project. The session focuses on the results of a comprehensive study on the current state of intermodal transport data collection in the EU. Discussions will cover data harmonization challenges across Member States and explore opportunities for standardized practices in the future.

10:00 Eric Feyen, Technical Director at UIRR, opened the webinar, introducing UIRR's mission and activities. UIRR, the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport, represents combined transport operators and service providers in Europe, promoting efficient and sustainable multimodal transport solutions across the continent.

Feyen then mentions the ReMuNet project, which has a vision centered around seamless reactions to disruptive events in freight transport. ReMuNet aims to increase network resilience by rerouting transports and redistributing capacities to adapt quickly to unexpected disruptions, ensuring continuity and efficiency in transport operations.

10:05 He explains that the project follows a structured methodology, which includes understanding multimodal transport networks, calculating alternative route options, empowering collaborative synchro-modal freight, and piloting improvements.

He also highlights the need for intermodal statistics emphasizing current challenges in data collection. According to Feyen, the European Commission’s monitoring is hampered by a lack of comprehensive data from member states, impacting the ability to perform detailed analyses and drive further enhancements in intermodal transport services.

10:15 Nikos Roubanis, Head of Transport Statistics at Eurostat, takes the stage to discuss transport statistics within Eurostat, one of the nine main statistical themes covered by the organization. He explains that Eurostat offers an extensive dataset, including 500 transport data tables in Eurobase, and publishes around 45 articles and 60 data releases each year. Eurostat’s dedicated publications, like Key Figures in European Transport, also contribute to major reports, including The Regional Yearbook.

Roubanis mentions the scope of non-regulated regular transport statistics, covering regional transport data at NUTS levels 2 and 3, data from a Common Questionnaire with UNECE and ITF containing roughly 1,000 variables, and statistics on accidents across transport modes (road, rail, maritime, and aviation), along with Modal Split Indicators for passengers and goods.

10:20 He continues with a breakdown of container transport data, showing trends in the share of total freight transport (in tonne-kilometers) by different transport modes (rail, road, short sea shipping, and inland waterways) from 2012 to 2022.

Roubanis also addresses the challenges in gathering EU intermodal transport statistics, emphasizing that current data lacks the necessary detail for accurate intermodal measurements. According to him, since 2014, Eurostat has worked on creating a streamlined methodology, including grants to EU countries for data collection. Despite this, challenges remain, including confidentiality issues, high administrative burdens, and insufficient data granularity. He mentions a recent initiative launched in 2022 in the Netherlands, which aims to trace container destinations using administrative data, thus reducing the response burden on stakeholders.

10:25 Roubanis continues with an example of best practices in data collection through the European Road Freight Survey. This survey gathers data on trucks registered in EU member states, Norway, and Switzerland, covering aspects like vehicle type, journey details, and goods transported, with 50 variables in total. Each quarter, Eurostat receives microdata five months after the end of the quarter, aggregating data from about 800,000 lorry samples annually. This aggregation provides each country with comprehensive insights into road freight transport activities, including those of foreign-registered trucks.

10:30 Roubanis mentions a shift in expectations from transport statistics, as the field moves from traditional transport surveys to a broader focus on mobility. He points out an increasing demand for data on individual movements, purpose, and location, including active mobility options. According to him, the ability to trace goods and persons across different transport modes, combined with real-time mobility information, is essential for timely and innovative statistical solutions that meet emerging needs in the sector.

10:40 Vivin Kumar Sudhakar, Project Manager at SGKV, introduces himself, bringing over seven years of experience in logistics to the discussion. His expertise lies in strengthening and developing Combined Transport (CT) by connecting research with practical applications. Sudhakar has managed six German and European projects and is actively involved in applied research, infrastructure evaluation, and feasibility studies for logistics.

Dr. Paul Hebes, Consultant at SGKV, joins him, adding insights into SGKV’s network and tools. SGKV connects industry players across Europe, developing collaboration in CT through initiatives like Intermodal Academy, Intermodal Map, and Intermodal Info. They support a wide range of activities, including research, consulting, and event organization, all aimed at advancing the intermodal transport sector.

10:45 The SGKV team further explains their role in the ReMuNet project, noting that their goal is to gain a deeper understanding of current statistical methodologies and data compilation efforts from authorities and industry associations. They state that the project’s objective is to support the development of intermodal transport by analyzing relevant legal frameworks and data collection practices in five selected countries: Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The team explores two key questions: which regulations govern CT statistics, and whether there are other international agreements, like those with the OECD, influencing data collection.

10:50 Dr. Paul Hebes reveals the results of a poll taken by webinar participants at the start, which asked how many EU laws they think influence Combined Transport (CT) statistics.

He then presents the actual regulatory landscape, explaining that no specific EU regulation directly governs CT statistics. Instead, CT is indirectly covered under various regulations focused on individual transport modes, such as loading unit specifications. There are seven core EU regulations and directives, along with additional associated legal frameworks, impacting intermodal transport at the EU level. However, he notes that there are significantly fewer national laws, with an average of only two to three relevant statutes in each country.

As an example, Dr. Hebes uses Germany’s legal structure, mentioning the Federal Statistics Act (BStatG) and the Transport Statistics Act (VerkStatG). These laws outline the obligations for data provision, the roles of stakeholders, and specific sectoral reporting requirements.

11:00 Vivin Kumar Sudhakar presents the statistical methodologies used in the ReMuNet project to analyze intermodal statistics. He explains that the project conducted a metadata analysis to catalog existing statistical methodologies, focusing on metadata elements like data origin, frequency, and format to gain insight into data organization. This evaluation covered data collection practices employed by Eurostat, national statistical offices, and various associations, examining how statistical data is gathered for each transport mode.

Sudhakar adds that the project collected 28 cases illustrating how different national agencies and associations manage CT data collection. He then moves on to the main findings from the research, which indicate a lack of unified methods for CT data collection, with most systems focusing on individual transport modes. Key findings include:

11:05 Sudhakar then outlines recommendations for improving statistical recording in Combined Transport (CT), emphasizing that these are suggestions based on findings, as neither he nor Dr. Paul Hebes are legal experts or statisticians.

11:15 Dr. Paul Hebes reviews another poll question answered by the participants at the start of the webinar, asking if detailed data on intermodal transport is important for their work.

Hebes then presents one of the ReMuNet project’s key outputs: 17 country sheets and a comprehensive Excel database. Each country sheet contains a two-page summary of indicators and data relevant to intermodal transport, selected to align with the ReMuNet project’s objectives.

11:25 Vivin Kumar Sudhakar concludes with examples of best practices in data handling for Combined Transport (CT), showcasing existing tools and platforms that offer valuable insights.

• ERA Railway Factsheets: These provide interactive statistics on railway transport across EU countries, facilitating a quick overview of data relevant to rail transport.
• Interactive Figures on Combined Transport: SGKV offers an interactive tool that enables users to explore combined transport figures, allowing for dynamic data visualization tailored to specific user needs.
• Eurostat’s Data Browser: A comprehensive tool for accessing a wide range of transport-related statistics, including intermodal transport data, allowing users to customize data queries.

He also mentions KV-Stat, a feasibility study aimed at creating a dedicated statistical platform for CT in Germany and the EU.

This concludes the 'Intermodal Transport Statistics' webinar. Thank you for tuning in with RAILTARGET for the live coverage.