Abstract
Business to consumer e-commerce (B2C) has increased sharply in recent years driven by a growing online population and changes in consumer behavior. In metropolitan areas, the “Amazon effect” (online retailers’ vast selection, fast shipping, free returns, and low prices) has led to an increased use of light goods vehicles. This is affecting the rational functioning of the transport system, including a high degree of fragmentation, low load optimization, and, among other externalities, higher traffic congestion. This paper investigates the potential of a metro system, in a big city like Madrid, to provide delivery services by leveraging its existing carrying capacity and using the metro stations to collect parcels in lockers. It would be a new mixed distribution model for last-mile deliveries associated with e-commerce. To that end, the paper evaluates the cost and impacts of two alternative scenarios for managing the unused space in rolling stock (shared trains) or specific full train services (dedicated trains) on existing lines. The external costs of the proposed scenarios are compared with current e-commerce delivery scenario (parcel delivery by road). The results show that underground transport of parcels could significantly reduce congestion costs, accidents, noise, GHG emissions, and air pollution.
Highlights
Urban distribution of goods is responsible for approximately one-fourth of road traffic in a typical city [6] and, in addition, involves other activities requiring the use of urban spaces: Loading–unloading, storage, etc
Urban distribution is essential for the activity and development of any city, and Madrid is no exception
The total costs estimated for the two alternatives proposed indicate that the use of the metropolitan rail system to deliver e-commerce packages through smart lockers could be a promising alternative from a social and environmental standpoint
Summary
According to the UN (2018), 55% of the world’s population is currently living in cities and the percentage of urbanization will increase up to two-thirds of the global population by 2030 [1]. 89%, about 29 percentage points more than in 2008 [2] In this regard, urban logistics presents a dichotomy. Urban distribution of goods is responsible for approximately one-fourth of road traffic in a typical city [6] and, in addition, involves other activities requiring the use of urban spaces: Loading–unloading, storage, etc. The. Urban distribution is essential for the activity and development of any city, and Madrid is no exception. There are two main types of problems associated to urban distribution in the city of Madrid [36]: Urban infrastructure: #. GDP, is divided into 21 districts with a total population of 3.3 million [35] and has a total area of 60,436.7 hectares, with an average population density of 54 inhabitants per hectare.
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