freightram in Frankfurt: A month for sustainable package transport

<p> <strong> freightram in Frankfurt: A month for sustainable package transport </strong> </p>

In Frankfurt am Main, a remarkable experiment for urban logistics starts: a freight tram is tested for a month. As part of the research project "Lastmiletram Rheinmain V", this tram packed and packages from the edge of the city transports this tram packed for package deliveries. The cooperation includes the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, the transport company Frankfurt am Main and the multinational online retailer Amazon. The initiative is intended to help improve the flow of traffic and at the same time reduce the noise pollution and CO₂ emissions in the inner-city environment.

A central element of the concept is an electric load bike that brings the deliveries to the front doors of the customers. The bicycles have a label that is reminiscent of a well-known phrase from a popular ARD television program of the 1980s. This combination of innovative transport on rails and efficient bicycle shipping makes the project particularly interesting.

course and logistics

The freight tram runs between the “Stadium” and “Zoo” stops and also offers connections to the Gutleut depot. The packages initially reach the tram station with electrically operated vans from the Amazon distribution center in Raunheim. From there, the freight tram takes over the further transport to the city center. The use of low -emission vehicles is a clear step towards sustainable logistics and a reaction to the urban mobility.

Although parcel services are increasingly relying on environmentally friendly delivery methods, the use of vehicles with internal combustion engines is still widespread. The project managers emphasize that numerous factors and complex relationships have to be taken into account for low-CO₂ delivery logistics. This includes not only suitable vehicles, but also a comprehensive charging infrastructure and microdepot solutions, which are often rare and expensive, especially in urban areas.

"The transport of goods on the rail is promising," said the initiators of the project. You would like to find out how this new delivery concept deals compared to traditional delivery. Important factors such as inflation and CO₂ taxes are also considered. In addition, it is examined how parcel flows can be mastered efficiently at peak times and how transport times can be moved strategically.

Another goal of the project is to test whether the tram is also suitable for transporting bulky goods. For this purpose, potentially suitable load carriers are tested, which make it possible to better bundle and organize shipments. All of these aspects are part of a comprehensive consideration that enables the project partners to develop innovative solutions for future logistics.

already existing initiatives

The idea of transportation within public public transport (public transport) has been intensively pursued at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences since 2018. As early as 2019, a "logistics tram" was tested, which transported both goods and passengers and drove from the Gutleutviertel to the fair. These previous experiences are now entering the current study and contributing to further evaluating the potential of the property tram in Frankfurt.

The ongoing project could set the course for a new era of urban logistics. If it turns out that the operation of a freight tram makes both ecologically and economically sensible, this could pave the way for similar initiatives in other cities and enable a more sustainable future for parcel transport in urban centers.