Although two months have passed since the conclusion of the International Transport Forum held in Leipzig in May 2010, the key messages sent across by those who activate in the transport sector will not be forgotten.
In May 2010, ministers of transport from various countries met with railway leaders and members of the civil and academic society during the International Transport Forum to discuss new ways of consolidating efforts in order to improve the performance of the transport sector. Innovation in the field of politics, procedures and technology represents the key towards economic recovery and a more efficient and sustainable transport system.
A vision on transport
Transport is an integral cog in the chain of economic growth and social interaction. Supported by innovation, transport is fundamental for an independent life, trade and social cohesion, as well as a positive force for integration and economic development. The vision on transport expressed by ITF participants is that the transport sector will achieve its full potential in terms of safety, environmental protection, intermodality, accessibility and provider of a constant flow of passengers and freight.
For this vision to become reality, the transport sector has to take immediate action and launch an ambitious transition process. Several well-coordinated ways of transition should be established, which involve political action, industry initiatives and investments.
The ITF representatives outlined several basic notions for the future transport system and in order to achieve these objectives, the sector requires immediate innovative and ambitious actions. The priorities outlined include: improvement of logistics and intermodality inside and outside country borders through new and integrated approaches, using interoperable technologies, which would allow the optimization of the electronic exchange of information; better traffic congestion management through new mechanisms that provide a more efficient network capacity, ensuring stronger connections between land usage and transport planning; implementation of passenger information systems and innovative traffic management systems, supported by mobile communications and other new technologies; preservation of an open and competitive market; development of innovative technologies.
ITF representatives also suggested that it is very important to reduce the environmental and climate change impact by promoting and applying integrated strategic approaches which include the use of alternative fuel and energy sources. These measures are aimed at encouraging a change in the transport sector, a more intense use of urban and interurban public passenger transport, as well as the promotion of low-carbon technologies.
As a result, the transport sector will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its dependency on fossil fuel, becoming a low-carbon sector. For instance, the energy recuperation systems and the more advanced and efficient train driving systems based on hybrid technology and used in railway transport show a significant potential in reducing carbon emissions.
“Innovation in the transport sector represents the key of success if we want to achieve these objectives”, said Peter Ramsauer, German Federal Minister for Transport, Construction and Urban
Development.
Transport potential for innovation
A significant measure that should be taken is the consolidation of passenger and freight transport, mainly through the use of innovative technologies, such as the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), in order to increase the performance and quality of transport services.
Every government should make strategic investments in research and development on a global scale, including in pilot-projects that focus on expanding innovation and the exchange of best practices. To that end, countries and regions should improve their cooperation in the industry and even outside country borders. This will certainly contribute to the optimization of the research & development resources.
The main theme of the International Transport Forum held in Leipzig was “Transport and Innovation”. German President Hurst Köhler, who attended the event, outlined the fact that technological innovations are not enough to solve this problem. “Future innovations include other measures as well, such as the proper internalisation of external costs. The current tariff policy is not coordinated with the situation at hand and it doesn’t properly reflect parameters such as pollution, noise, health and climate change. Most of the time, we are not even aware of the actual costs generated by the environmental impact”, said Horst Köhler.
Both public and private players who activate in the transport sector should promote and stimulate innovation. The industry needs innovation to increase competitiveness on the market, to meet the regulation requirements and to generate profit. Governments should stimulate and promote transport innovation through the development of a policy based on results that lead to innovation. To that end, they should establish clear political objectives and ensure a strong commitment.
“Transport exists to serve the needs of the society. In order to continue to do so in the future, it will require new approaches. Moreover, this will require a stronger cooperation, as well as new forms of partnerships – between governments, outside country borders, with the industry, between various sectors, with the civil society and groups of users and with the research community”, outlined Jack Short, ITF Secretary General.
by Elena Ilie
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