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Intermodal transport

From sustainable alternative to strategic backbone

Column by Paul van de Vorle, Director Business Development

Recent years have shown just how quickly logistical certainties can vanish. Conflicts, trade routes under pressure and fluctuating energy prices are making logistics less predictable. What if intermodal transport is the best safeguard against geopolitical supply chain risks?

For years, intermodal transport was primarily viewed through the lens of sustainability: lower CO₂ emissions, fewer vehicles on the road, and greater use of rail and sea transport. That remains relevant, but the context is changing. In a world where geopolitical tensions and cost developments reinforce one another, the role of intermodal transport is shifting towards something more fundamental: maintaining control over your supply chain.

Less predictable

Geopolitical tensions are making supply chains not only more vulnerable, but also less predictable in terms of costs. Not only because trade routes are under pressure and energy prices are fluctuating, but also because regulations surrounding logistics are constantly changing. Toll systems, national levies and rising operational costs are making it increasingly difficult to regard transport as a stable factor. For companies that rely on large volumes, this means that costs and capacity are becoming less certain. What was efficient yesterday may suddenly come under pressure tomorrow.

“Resilience does not arise from flexibility alone, but from structure within the supply chain”

Greater resilience in the supply chain

This makes one thing clear: a supply chain that relies entirely on a single transport mode is vulnerable. This is where intermodal transport comes back into the picture. Not as a sustainable ideal, but as a way to better spread logistical risks. Water and rail transport are ideally suited to large volumes over longer distances.

Combined with road transport, this creates not only an efficient transport mix but also greater stability. Certainly in bulk flows, where volumes are large and continuity is essential, this diversification can make all the difference. But that resilience does not arise by itself. Consistent volumes, predictable planning and clear agreements are key to success.

European infrastructure

At the same time, European infrastructure is taking on a new significance. The network of inland waterways, rail corridors and terminals provides a strong logistical foundation. In a world where international routes are increasingly under pressure, these corridors become a source of stability. For bulk flows, this means that alternatives are available which are less susceptible to external disruptions. As a result, infrastructure shifts from being a purely economic factor to a strategic foundation.

Efficiency remains the foundation

However, this does not mean that intermodal transport is suddenly always the best solution. Efficiency remains the foundation in bulk logistics. But whereas previously the focus was mainly on cost per kilometer, the emphasis is increasingly shifting towards manageability over time. The question is thus fundamentally changing: not just what is cheapest today, but which model offers the most control in the long term. Perhaps that is the most important development. Intermodal transport is no longer merely a sustainable alternative. It is a strategic safeguard against an unpredictable world.

More info? Get in touch with Paul van de Vorle.