Study for the analysis of intermodal processes using simulation techniques.

The globalization of world economy has led to a constant decrease in the cost of transport. Nowadays many intermodal terminals are still managed without a pervasive support of information technologies: the terminal management highly relies on well-assessed policies, typical of each terminal, which have been defined by the managers on the basis of their experience. In most cases these policies are satisfactory since the terminals have sufficient resources in terms of tracks, equipment, human resources and they can support the current flows of freight. On the other hand, the growth of freight transport shows a rapidly increasing trend in the short and medium terms, which the current infrastructures and management tools cannot meet. In the present work, different scenarios of a new intermodal terminal (trucks/train) has been simulated using FlexSim Software and a subsequent analysis and interpretation of the obtained results has been performed. The simulated intermodal terminal allows the horizontal unload/load (U/L) of semi-trailers (STs) in the set of wagons that form the train. The design and operation of the terminal is based on the LOHR system, that brings a solution that is efficient, truly competitive, environment-friendly, immediately operational, complementary to road transport, and able to absorb the high levels of transit traffic currently saturating the European road and motorway networks. In the first part of the present work it is documented the current situation of the European Rail Freight Corridors, with a special zoom in the Mediterranean Corridor and the nodes of Turin and Barcelona; it is studied Barcelona, and its port, as a referent logistics hub; it is analysed the location scenario of the proposed new intermodal terminal and the design and description of the new intermodal terminal are studied. Therefore, the present work is composed by a practical simulation part and by a theoretical context analysis of the new terminal. Both parts are strongly linked, as a simulation is another (and very important) piece inside the project of building a new intermodal terminal. Where not just logistics, but economic, politic, social and environmental factors directly impact the characteristics of the future terminal.