Co-operative Rail Cargo Transport Effects

Transport optimization for rail transports and especially rail operator co-operations are an inter-esting modeling environment due to three specific characteristics: First a simple minimum optimi-zation direction of e.g. transport distances may not be feasible due to connecting transport routes for rolling stock equipment – in some cases an increase in empty transport kilometres could there-fore provide for marginal earnings larger than marginal costs. Second this logistics setting is in-cluding large areas of qualitative benefits of transport decisions for rail operators – which are hard to calculate as for example long-term competitive advantages or image benefits due to co-operation effects and capabilities. Third the initial definition of empty transport avoidance as a mi-nimization objective is entitled to a complex discussion – leading to different measurement and therefore optimization standards according to real-world business practice. The subsequently pre-sented discussion may lead to a concept to include these special aspects in standard transport op-timization modeling.