Intermodal Transport as a Part of a Supply Chain

The purpose of this paper is to present intermodal transport as a part of the companies' supply chain in which rail transport is not a necessity but a value added element. The European Commission stated in its current "White Paper" as follows: "Railway is sometimes seen, particularly as far as freight transport is concerned, as an unattractive means of transport. However, certain examples of some Member States have shown that railway can offer high quality transport services". In fact, rail freight transport has undergone a large transformation in recent years. A growing number of shippers and forwarders have discovered rail transport as an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to road transport for the movement of cargoes.