Aachen, December 22, 2005

The Future of Intermodal Transport

The European Intermodal Research Advisory Council (EIRAC) presented to the EU Commissioners of Research and Transport the Strategic Intermodal Agenda 2020 in Brussels on 14 December 2005.

EIRAC was founded six month ago in Brussels as advisory board for Intermodal Transport within the framework of a Research Programme of the European Commission. The board is composed of more than 50 CEO's and Managing Directors of the key players in the transport market who are to develop a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for Intermodal Transport in conjunction with a business scenario.

Mr. Wando Boevé, member of the Board of Directors of ECT, has been appointed chairman of the EIRAC Plenary. Besides the Plenary the board consists of five working groups for Interoperability, Logistics, Security, Socio-Economics and Education&Training. Mr. Udo Niessen, Vice President, Logistics Systems Division at INFORM GmbH, Aachen, Germany was affiliated to the board as a specialist for logistics and IT and has been elected vice chairman of the Logistics working group.

EIRAC handed over its report after six months of intensive analysis, reflection and deliberation. The report says that in 2020 the European Intermodal Transport System will account for 40 % of the movement of goods in Europe. Intermodal Transport will develop to be an industry with its own specific identity and strategy.

EIRAC's target is to work out a realistic and feasible business plan which is to support the European Commission's decision making on how to make best use of the financial means of the 7th Research Programme. This plan will be presented in 1 ½ years time from now.