Central Eastern European countries
debate on the development of the Freight Villages concept during a Seminar
in Verona
Geneva, 18 July 2003
A Seminar on the Promotion of the Freight Village concept in the EU, in acceding
countries and other Central and Eastern European countries, was held on 19-20
June 2003 in Verona, Italy. The Seminar was organized jointly by the UNECE-sponsored
Trans-European Railway (TER) Project, Europlatforms, Eurochambres and Consorzio
ZAI Interporto Quadrante Europa.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Ministries
of Transport or Foreign Trade and railway companies from 11 TER member countries
as well as international organizations and combined transport operators, such
as the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres),
European Network of Freight Villages (Europlatforms), Association of Centres
of Transport of Spain, CEMAT. The University of Verona was also associated
to this Seminar.
The participants exchanged views on issues linked to the
development of Freight Villages and their main components, intermodal terminals,
in Central and Eastern European Countries. They received information about
the latest developments of Freight Villages in Italy and Spain both from the
point of view of legislation required for public support as well as the practical
implementation of measures for an advanced system of efficient management
of sustainable freight flows.
They reviewed, in particular, the advantages of creating
freight villages such as the positive impact they have for the neighbouring
area and population. A visit to the Freight Village Quadrante Europa in Verona
illustrated the successful development of this terminal in the last 30 years.
The Seminar came to the following conclusions:
- Freight Villages and their components, intermodal terminals,
are indispensable infrastructure fabrics for a profitable combined transport
system.
- Freight Villages as multi-firm commercial estates concentrating
transport activities from different operators and users offer an ideal framework
to decrease the overall transport costs and offer a higher quality of transport
services.
- To start or develop efficient Freight Villages, adequate
legislation based on the successful experience of other countries in this
field is a must for all Central and Eastern European Countries. The TER initiative
in this respect will be continued in the future offering the framework for
an efficient exchange of views among all interested partners in this field.
- Establishment and development of freight villages will
have a positive impact on the overall economic development of the region where
they are set up and on the living conditions of the community.
- The railways should play a more active role in the competitive
transport market because bi- or multimodal cooperation among railways contributes
to more efficient activity in this sector with better results and higher profits.
- The Italian experience in developing Freight Villages should
continue to be shared within UNECE-TER to the advantage of all those involved
in this field.
For additional information please contact:
Mr. Jose Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Mr. Michalis P. Adamantiadis, Regional Adviser
UNECE Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH – 1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41(0)22 917 24 01, 917 11 28
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Web site: http://unece.org/trans/ (Under TER heading)