Effects of Longer Lorries and Freight Trains in an International Corridor between Sweden and Germany

The effects of enabling the use of longer road vehicle combinations and/or longer trains in an intermodal freight corridor that extends from central Sweden to the Ruhr area in Germany are studied. Transports are designed based on the smallest vehicle dimensions in the transport chain, currently 18.75 m for trucks in Germany and 650 m for trains in Sweden. The question that is investigated is whether/how the transport system can be improved by using longer vehicles for road transports, rail transports or both. Ten scenarios are simulated with the help of the Swedish national freight model, Samgods. In Scenario Road 1 it is assumed that 25.25 m-long trucks are allowed on the entire road corridor (that also includes a ferry link). It is further assumed that the longer trucks can access the road corridor in Germany via terminals. In Scenario Rail 1, 750 m-long freight trains can be operated in the rail corridor that goes via Jutland/Denmark. In the combined Road 1 + Rail 1 scenario it is assumed that both longer trucks and longer trains can be used in the corridor. The effects on the freight flows, modal split, logistics costs and CO2 emissions are studied and rough socioeconomic analyses are carried out.