Renewed attention has emerged for the topic of intermodal transportation. Since a couple of years, research has focused on the concept of synchromodality. Synchromodality refers to creating the most efficient and sustainable transportation plan for all orders in an entire network of different modes and routes, by using the available flexibility. In this paper we provide an overview of relevant research around three topics related to the case of European Gateway Services, the network orchestrator of container transportation network in the Rotterdam hinterland. For each topic we describe studies with practical relevance and recent results. Finally, we conclude by describing topics for further research with relevance for future practical developments.
Bart van Riessen is a PhD researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He specialized in several quantitative aspects of transportation planning. Since 2012 he studies synchromodal network planning optimization of container logistics in Europe, and he has worked for Europe's largest container terminal operator (ECT, Rotterdam). Currently, he continues doing research on this topic at ECT and Erasmus University. His ambition is to combine both advanced quantitative research with practical applications for present-day challenges in logistics. In other positions during his past experience, his work consisted of quantitative research in several domains, such as airport passenger queuing or energy-efficient transportation.