Fermerci to Organise a Special Event at Green Logistics Expo
It is easy to say that freight should be shifted onto trains. This is undoubtedly an essential objective for sustainable logistics, and manufacturing companies themselves — as well as freight forwarders — are increasingly requiring, in tenders for the award of logistics services, that a significant percentage of rail transport be guaranteed and certified.
However, there are still many critical issues that make it difficult to turn this intention into reality. One of these concerns the so-called rail last mile: the set of infrastructures where trains are formed, loaded or unloaded, including interports, port and industrial terminals, rail sidings and exchange stations connected to the national railway network.
It is precisely on this topic that Fermerci — the association representing all players in the rail freight logistics sector, and a participant in Green Logistics Expo — will organise a special event during the exhibition. The event will focus on proposals designed to make last-mile management more efficient, for the benefit of all operators and not only rail freight companies.
But what needs to be improved? Fermerci has already set this out clearly in a dedicated study. The main issues include limited interoperability and connection with ports, limited capacity of facilities and imbalance in traffic distribution, delays in implementing the last-mile electrification programme, and the lack of a specific incentive system for terminal activities and for the relaunch of certain types of facilities.
Fermerci’s proposals will focus primarily on these issues, also through an update of the study already carried out.
Confirming the central role of rail transport in the transition towards environmentally sustainable logistics — while also making the sector increasingly efficient thanks to growing levels of digitalisation and automation — Assofer, the association of rail and intermodal operators, has also announced its participation in Green Logistics Expo. This will further broaden the debate and discussion around a sector that is strategic for the future of our logistics system.
