Intermodal transport as a regional development strategy: the case of Italian freight villages.

Monios, Jason

doi:10.1111/grow.12129

Authors

Jason Monios

Abstract

This paper examines the development of intermodal transport operations at freight villages in Italy. Quantitative data on public and private investment and ownership in each of the 25 Italian freight villages are analysed to identify relevant issues, which are then explored through five qualitative case studies. The research considers how intermodal transport stimulation links national modal shift policy with regional economic development strategies based on the promotion of logistics growth. The research identifies a misalignment between national and regional scales, as funding based on national policy does not align with port and freight village planning strategies developed at the regional level. From an operational perspective, this misalignment is exacerbated by the often adversarial relations between ports and intermodal terminals, in addition to the fragmented nature of the Italian freight sector. Even with a national policy to promote freight villages with intermodal terminals and a dedicated funding stream to support this network of approved sites, operational issues mean that establishing intermodal shuttles remains a difficult and marginal enterprise, particularly in the case of southern Italy due to its location on the periphery of intra-European freight flows.

Citation

Monios, J. (2015). Intermodal transport as a regional development strategy: the case of Italian freight villages. Growth and Change, 47(3), 363-377. https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12129

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jul 1, 2014
Online Publication Date	Sep 4, 2016
Publication Date	Oct 1, 2015
Deposit Date	Jul 29, 2014
Print ISSN	0017-4815
Electronic ISSN	1468-2257
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	47
Issue	3
Pages	363-377
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12129
Keywords	Intermodal transport; regional development; Italy;
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6928
Publisher URL	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/grow.12129/pdf