E-commerce transport by train

Important results from the project

The conditions and possibilities for launch of green long-haul transport were investigated. Possibilities and demand for innovation in the area is deemed large. Current innovation is mostly focused on first-/last mile delivery, whiles long haul is missing sustainable options although demand from logistics parties is high. Looking at existing goods flows, it has shown that there are sufficient volumes for sustainable profitability for transporters. The large goods flows also overlap train lines, a fact that enables service build out without major infrastructure investments.

Expected long term effects

During the project the need for train transports within e-commerce has been mapped and proven. Several webshops and their logistics partners are today looking for viable means of providing train transports. The market potential is proven large enough to justify the potential investments needed to update train cars. I.e. the project has proven a solid base to start a new market of e-trade transports via rail. Project team is in dialogue with a freight broker to take project results further towards implementation.

Approach and implementation

The project as a whole has followed the set plan. It has turned out well to use a hypothesis-based innovation process and design sprints. Solution proposals have been successfully tested against market players / end consumers and demand has been confirmed by both e-retailers and transport players. The exploration phase, however, proved to take more time. With the realization that final service development should be done by a party other than Silverrail as a system supplier, it has been handed over to an established multimodal "freight broker" who wants to design the market offer further.