Tids- och kostnadseffektivitet vid intermodala transporter

Sammanfattning: This study aims to explore effectiveness within intermodal transportation of semi-trailers based on the variables cost and time. Intermodal transport can be explained as a transportation of a carrier, from the origin to the final destination, using two or more modes of transport (Crainic & Kim, 2007 p.467). This study focuses on the two modes of transport rail and road. The rail transportation has big advantages towards other modes of transport since it has less impact on the environment, given that the energy is produced in Sweden (Trafikverket 2017) but there are more benefits to be utilized. The rail transportation is generally more profitable on distances greater than 500 km, thus it can transport high volumes of goods over long distances for a low cost. The fixed costs that´s added in the terminals and the rail transports low degree of flexibility compared to the road transport is the primary reasons why rail transportation isn´t profitable on shorter distances. This study has made a market research to see where the final destinations for the imported semi-trailers are located in Sweden and Norway. This, to see where there are potential to develop and create new rail shuttles from Port of Gothenburg to dry ports across the Swedish and Norwegian inland for transportation of semi-trailers. Interviews have been conducted with carriers to create a more correct view of the current situation. Study results show that the greatest volumes of the transported semi-trailers ends up in the areas around Helsingborg and Stockholm, with the region around Gothenburg excluded. Dry ports positioned in this area show the best potential for development of new rail shuttles. The results from conducted interviews with carriers express that time is the most important aspect for their operation and their clients, that is also the reason why they don´t use the railway for transportation of semi-trailers. Carriers also consider the trains to be unreliable and the railway operation in Port of Gothenburg has so far not been operating well enough for them. The result show that 38 percent of the imported semi-trailers have their final destination in the area around Gothenburg and naturally it´s not possible for the railway to compete with the road transport at such a short distance. In order for the railway to compete with the road transport, rail shuttles to regions with high flows of semi-trailers must be developed to not loose in time and flexibility. Thus, the railway transportation has other opportunities than just transportation. In dry ports there are opportunities for storage of goods, which is generally cheaper than in the port and simultaneously create time gains in the final transportation, thus the goods are closer to the customer. Port of Gothenburg can compete with other ports, which are geographically closer to a certain customer, through more rail shuttles with more frequent departures and then take more market shares within Nordic transportation.