Rail is remarkably energy-efficient: transporting goods on rail is 5 x more efficient than by diesel trucks.

„Time2Shift“ is an entry point for shippers and freight forwarders to learn more about shifting to energy-saving rail.

Launched by

Powered by

supported by

This is why rail saves energy

Almost no diesel needed

Today, diesel is used as fuel for the absolute majority of freight transport. This means 20 billion liters a year that need to be produced from valuable crude oil. Rail freight, on the other hand, uses 95% electrical power, which can be supplied from renewable energies. 

Electric engine is way ahead

Due to poor efficiency, combustion engines are loosing up to 60% of the energy supplied as unused waste heat. In contrast, electric locomotives can convert 90% of the energy used into actual kinetic energy – and thus for its intended purpose.

Train Composition

On rail, many wagons are lined up. The brilliant thing about this: every additional wagon added to a train increases the energy consumption insignificantly. Freight trains are getting longer and longer – already up to 740 meters. This means more than 50 truck loads.

Less Friction

When rubber tires are rolling on asphalt, approx. 2% of the energy used is lost by friction. It’s different with rail: wheels on steel tracks have a significantly better coefficient of friction – and thus a superior energy efficiency

Being a Shipper - how can I shift to energy-saving rail?

Match2Rail allows shippers to conveniently match their freight flows with combined transport services. Therefore available door-to-door transport data (based on zip codes) can be used.

With Modility, shippers can find out about transport options and prices in combined transport, just like in a search engine. This gives them a quick and easy overview of the potential rail offers to optimize their supply chains.

Shippers purchase rail services easily, fast and with better results. With just a few clicks, you can reach a large number of rail transport service providers throughout Europe with your transport requests.

The project ERFA KV addressed shippers and forwarders needs in combined transport. A practical guide for getting started in combined transport has been published.

The project “Klimadialog” project shows the potential of rail transport with regard to climate protection and CO2-neutral transport. Examples of a successful modal shift from road to rail has been presented.

The independent Intermodal Capacity Broker provides fast and easy transparency on available transport capacities throughout Europe and enables also intermodal newcomers to compare and book them with just a few clicks – Simply.Book.Intermodal.

With modility, forwarders can find combinde transport connections from numerous operators online, view capacities, compare prices and book the right transport option with just a few clicks – thanks to the simple usability, even without prior knowledge.

The project ERFA KV addressed shippers and forwarders needs in combined transport. A practical guide for getting started in combined transport has been published.

Intermodal.info is the knowledge portal for everything to you need to know about combined transport. This portal is hosted by Studiengesellschaft für den Kombinierten Verkehr (SGKV).

railway.tools facilitates access to combined transport with the help of a digital platform which shows transport alternatives in order to link road and rail modes of transport.

Success Stories

Here we are going to demonstrate very soon success stories about shifting goods to rail. If you want to share your success stories, please feel free to send us an email at info@shift2030.eu

Kärcher hat einen Großteil seiner Zuliefertransporte von Rumänien nach Deutschland auf die Schiene verlagert

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

FAQ

Time2Shift is an initiative launched by shift2030 to point out rail freight as an energy-efficient mode of transport and to serve as entry an point for shippers and carriers to learn about shifting their cargo to energy-saving rail.

We are intending to collaborate with a broad group of stakeholders and are hoping receive active support from governments, the chambers of commerce as well as from associations, to consider all options in shifting more cargo to energy-saving rail.

Rail freight is not only about saving  energy. Transporting goods on rail reduces CO2 emissions by 80%, compared to a diesel truck. This is of importance, as the transport sector could not reduce its GHG emissions so far. Furthermore, shifting to rail supports shippers in achieving their individual climate targets. Innovative services, increasingly offered by private railway undertakings, are providing competitive transport solutions on rail. A number of shippers have already made this exercise and installed a clear strategy to use rail freight.

Carriers are facing massive challenges. The unprecedented increase in diesel costs is a threat to carriers’ business continuation, driver-shortage becomes even more crucial due to the war in Ukraine and finally the transport sector needs to urgently reduce its GHG emissions. Here – in particular – combined transport can help. E.g. by increasing job attractiveness of truck drivers, as they can stay overnight at home. At the same time, CO2-emissions are reduced by 80% compared to diesel trucks. A crucial factor, that is demanded by shippers when tendering their transport flows.

Just recently, many new offers and innovative solutions for rail freight have been introduced. E.g. now it is even more convenient for shippers to learn about available services in combined transport, based on their door-to-door transport flows. Furthermore, carriers now can access combined transport without initial investments (e.g. liftable equipment). This is in particular of interest for small and medium sized companies (SME)

In addition, Time2Shift wants to motivate shippers to re-think about their current transport setup and to investigate whether they could adopt these to shift these flows to energy-saving and climate-friendly rail freight. A number of shippers already made this exercise and installed a clear strategy to use rail freight.

Time2Shift does not intend to pit road against rail. Instead, individual advantages of the respective modes of transport shall be considered. In particular, combined transport provides innovate, competitive and sustainable transport solutions. Here, trucks are absolutely needed.

Costs for energy increased massively for railway undertakings. This is why we are supporting the position of several associations to reduce tax on electric energy for rail. This shall ensure that rail freight providers remain competitive and thus more freight can be shifted to energy-saving and climate-friendly rail.

About shift2030

The initiative shift2030 brings those together who are committed to work on a modal shift. We follow a hands-on, action oriented approach in close cooperation with the market and decision makers. Our work is focused on ACTION(S): we demonstrate fresh ideas and innovative technologies that can vitalize rail freight with the ambition to achieve the demanding climate targets for the EU transportation sector by 2030. Learn more…