cargo trams
Transport, whether of people or goods, is considered a key challenge in solving our sustainability equation. Movement will always be necessary, no matter how (g)local we get, so solutions need to be found on how to do this better than we currently go about it: better as in better for people, planet and profit.
In the Netherlands, an experiment is now looking into how to use open slot times on existing tram trajectories now used for public transport as a way for cargo trams to transport goods from, to and around the city, more efficiently (and spewing out less dust and carbondioxide) than current goods transport by truck, van and car. The relative inflexibility of a centralized, fixed network medium will only offer a partial solution, but nevertheless an interesting ‘helping hand’.
‘The more trucks off the road, the better’ is an often heard motto in today’s world. Traditional players in the market are shifting to more mainstream positions, e.g. the railway companies (in many countries dealing with saturated networks and/or ageing infrastructure) or internal navigation/shipping facilitators, they all fight for a piece of the cake. But also wilder ideas of subterranean freight pipeline transportation systems and airship cargolifters, try to get stuff off the road and tackle the last mile problem of traditional, fixed network, centrally organized transport infrastructure.
Because of the heavy infrastructural weight involved, the transport sector seems to occupy an especially difficult position as regards opting for radical innovation vs. incremental innovation. But can we afford to take little steps? Do we have the time? What if the assumptions underlying current road-based goods-transport (cf. pollution, energy consumption, safety hazard, hindrance to person(al) mobility, … ) no longer hold in the future?
UPDATE: One of our readers John Maryon reminded us of Volkswagen’s CargoTram in Dresden and also mentioned that his organization LeRail is organizing an international shortliner – dedicated train operations in Europe – conference to be held in Paris March 29-30. Thanks John!
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