Freight Best Practice - Anne Johnson

How often do you have one of those ‘now why didn’t I think of that’ moments? Simple solutions to often tricky problems. It has to be said that here at the Freight Best Practice programme we have our fair share of such moments.

Regular readers of this column will know that over the last year or so the programme has broadened its horizons to address the potential for modal shift and to illustrate efficiencies within rail and water transport. We have been working to support operators seeking information on grants and we have also recently published a series of case studies showing how different types of businesses have gone about researching and implementing multi-modal operations.

The Malcolm Group has successfully marketed a new freight train service from Daventry to Grangemouth to ensure that full train loads are carried both ways. Sainsbury’s has trialled use of barges on the Thames to deliver goods to their Wandsworth depot. London Concrete’s opening of its new rail terminal in North London is anticipated to take 18 million lorry kilometres off the road over the next ten years.

All of these case studies show the possibilities and benefits from making the most of non-road modes. But what has become apparent to us through our research into how we can best support those looking for multi-modal solutions is a simple lack of information about the location of terminals and wharves and the types of goods they can handle.

So, when one of the participants in our research piped up with the suggestion that a map showing available multi-modal sites would be really helpful, it really was one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that’ moments. Having delved into the matter a bit further, I am pleased to report that we have actually come up with the Interactive Multi-modal Map. It’s hosted on our website and we reckon it’s the first of its kind to feature both ports and rail terminals on the same map. The map is easy to navigate and provides information and commodity handling capabilities for 160 ports and 90 open user rail terminals, together with contact information and links to sources of further advice on the use of multi-modal transport and available grants.

If ever there was one, it’s a truly simple solution to a tricky problem. Take a look at it and let me know what you think. You’ll find it on the website along with our multi-modal case studies.

Anne Johnson is spokesperson for the Freight Best Practice Programme and principal consultant for the transport and engineering consultancy AECOM.

For further information, contact Anne via e-mail: anne.johnson@aecom.com or visit: www.freightbestpractice.org.uk

Published: 15/01/2010