How to solve mobility and climate issues

Road transport has reached its boundaries, but that doesn't mean the logistical sector cannot grow. The railway sector plans to transport 75% more goods in the coming five years than it does today. This will increase the rail portion by one percent annually. Because rail transport emits up to eight times less carbon dioxide and pollutes the air much less than road transport, this has a direct impact on the Belgian climate objectives. No less than 32,000 lorries per day could be removed from our roads.

Competitive rail products lead to a growth in rail use and to Belgium preserving its role of logistical hub.

Shippers or transporters often think that rail transport is slow, unreliable and not very flexible. Over the last few years, B Logistics has become financially healthy, has drastically improved the quality of cargo transport by rail, and it has developed innovative rail offerings. Today B Logistics offers competitive rail products via its Green Xpress Network*. These rail products respond completely to the demands of the client: a sustainable transport solution, with short transit times, high frequency and reliability as well as transparency within Europe.

Today, important industrial groups from the steel sector, chemistry and auto construction explicitly choose these premium rail products with a punctuality of approximately 95%, a differentiating service and excellent performance. Just like B Logistics, they are committed to realising a modal shift to rail transport.

The Federal Planning Bureau currently expects that freight traffic will increase by six percent from 2015 to 2020. B Logistics is convinced that the enterprise, together with sector colleagues and inland shipping, can absorb this predicted growth in goods transport via real modal shift. The rail sector plans to transport 75% more goods in the coming five years than it does today. This means an annual growth of one percent in the share of rail transport (currently eight percent). B Logistics is convinced that it can make a significant contribution thanks to its competitive and high-quality rail products.

At B Logistics we are currently offering a worthy alternative for road transport. I warmly appeal to transporters and shippers to put their preconceptions about the railway aside and to try our modernised rail offerings. Our society, mobility and climate can only improve.

Goods transport by rail will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons annually by 2021

Because rail transport emits up to eight times less carbon dioxide than road transport, this has a direct impact on the environment. With an annual growth of one percent of the rail portion in the modal split, we will emit 406,000 tons less carbon dioxide equivalent per year as of 2021 thanks to goods transport by rail. This makes an important contribution to Belgian climate objectives.

Not only does rail transport have a positive effect on carbon dioxide emissions, less Nox (Nitrogen Oxide) is also emitted - 94% less than for road transport. The emission of particulate matter is 44% lower for trains than for trucks.

B Logistics lives off of the intrinsic advantages of rail transport and the enterprise has actively launched an eco-driving programme amongst all its machinists. As a result, the average use of electricity per ride has decreased by more than 20%.

More goods on the railways results in nine percent fewer lorries on the road

Mobility problems are discussed in the media every day. Yet there is a competitive alternative that isn't used enough by transporters and shippers. One train can transport the freight of 50 lorries. Moreover, the railway is a lot safer than road transport.

In a forward-looking scenario in which the market share of road transport remains unchanged at 77.7 %, no less than 32,000 lorries per day could be removed from our roads. Congestion could decrease as a result, even in the event of strongly increased volumes in port traffic.

*Green Xpress Network: The Green Xpress Network is a network of direct, fast, reliable and frequent rail connections between Belgium and economic hubs in Europe (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Romania). The trains follow a set timetable so that clients are aware of departure and arrival times (siding-to-siding). The average punctuality of the Xpress products is higher than 95%, which is unparalleled in the market. By combining the flow of goods, B Logistics offers a truly competitive rail product and it fully utilises the advantages of rail transport.

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How to solve mobility and climate issues

The Federal Planning Bureau currently expects that freight traffic will increase by six percent from 2015 to 2020. Road transport has reached its boundaries, but that doesn't mean the logistical sector cannot grow.