Sea Change in Rail Freight Practice

During the past ten years, freight transport volume increased by 30 percent in the European Union, whereas road increased by 38 per cent. One can therefore not be very optimistic about rail freight. Not only has rail freight stagnated during that period, but moreover it is loosing important market shares to competitors. As a matter of fact, there has been a regression in absolute volume from 2002 to 2003. Consequently, we must ask ourselves: What the implications and the effects of declining railway freight will be on the logistics industry?