Modal choice preferences in short-distance hinterland container transport

Short distance inland container transport to Western European seaports provides opportunities for additional modal shift to intermodal transport, thanks to the concentration of transport flows transported to the immediate hinterland of these ports. The literature on modal choice behavior, however, fails to explain the (relatively low) success of this market segment. In this paper, a choice-based conjoint experiment is conducted to increase the insight on the preferences of modal choice decision-makers in Belgium, active in the considered market segment. The findings of the experiment suggest that, to enhance a further modal shift, operators should try to provide daily services at a competitive price, with a focus on providing more reliable services than road transport. Additional efforts should be made to correctly inform decision-makers on the available intermodal services.