Collective advantages of Combined Transport

Reduction of infrastructure costs

• Reduction of road traffic volume (less congestion on roads)
• Better use of existing rail capacity permitting, to a certain extent, limitation of investment in the road infrastructure
• Better sharing of volumes between the different transport modes
• Combination of the advantages of road (flexibility) and rail (more economical transport of large volumes over long distances)

Reduction of the external costs

• Improved road safety (less congestion on the road network)
• Reduction of air pollution
• Reduction of climatic changes (CO2 emissions)
• Noise reduction
• Reduction of pollution in environmentally sensitive areas
• Reduction of consumption of non-renewable energy sources

Advantages for CT clients

Direct

• Lower manpower costs: savings on variable costs, reduced personnel (drivers, driving time, night work)
• Gain in competitiveness
• Savings on fuel thanks to the section completed by rail
• Less wear on equipment (tyres, maintenance), longer life for trucks and reduced fleet of vehicles due to investment in transferable equipment
• Exemption from, reduction or reimbursement of road vehicle taxes
• Increased flexibility in the management of transport flows

Indirect

• No need for permits to cross borders 
• Increased flexibility in organisation
• Extension of concession
• Reduced transit time: journey by train recognised as rest time for the driver (accompanied CT)
• Better enforcement and control of labour laws for drivers
• Facilitation of transalpine transit (larger loads shipped)
• Exemption from traffic bans on Sundays and public holidays for vehicles carrying out terminal delivery and collection in road positioning legs
• Simplification of customs procedures at the CT terminals
• Reduced risk of damage to goods during shipment