Abstract
Retail traffic is one of the main drivers for the growth of intermodal transport services in the UK. This paper examines the key factors underpinning this modal shift in order to learn lessons for other market and geographical contexts. Since successful retail intermodal logistics involves many actors, this paper is based on semi-structured interviews with major UK retailers, third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and rail operators, supplemented by document analysis. The qualitative data are analysed via a conceptual framework derived from the literature. Despite past successes and the presence of drivers for future growth, the paper identifies many operational issues without current solutions and the presence of ongoing public subsidy. The major conclusion is that the importance of 3PLs, aggregation and multi-user platforms must be recognised by transport planners in supporting the use of intermodal transport by retailers and other large shippers.
Highlights
The objective of this study is to understand the key factors relating to the use of intermodal transport by retailers
Successful retail intermodal logistics involves many actors, this paper addresses the retailers themselves as well as rail operators and third-party logistics providers (3PLs)
Retail traffic is one of the key drivers of intermodal transport in the UK. Lessons learned from this success may contribute to an understanding of modal shift in other market or geographical contexts. The need for this understanding derives from a policy background over the last decade in which modal shift from road to rail has been encouraged by governments as one way to reduce carbon emissions (DETR, 1998; European Commission, 2001)
Summary
The objective of this study is to understand the key factors relating to the use of intermodal transport by retailers. Retail traffic is one of the key drivers of intermodal transport in the UK. Lessons learned from this success may contribute to an understanding of modal shift in other market or geographical contexts. While understanding all factors involved in successful modal shift is beyond the scope of one paper, this paper will examine the particular success of large UK retailers to determine what can be learned for other sectors, and in particular what insights can be provided for transport planners in their ongoing work to support intermodal transport growth
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