|
Trans-Asian
Railway Northern Corridor
Feasibility Study on Connecting Rail Networks of China, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, the Russian Federation and the Korean Peninsula
(1995) |
In
the late 1980s and early 1990s, the world witnesses the
end of the Cold War and the emergence of brighter economic
prospects for countries of North and North-East Asia. This
economic environment gives new momentum for land transport
infrastructure development projects in view of the need
to serve efficiently new international trade flows within
Asia and between Asia and Europe. Significantly, container
trade between the two continents is booming and offers a
chance for the revival of international freight corridors.
Against this background, UNESCAP conducts a feasibility
study on connecting the rail networks of China, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, the Russian Federation and the Korean Peninsula
(1995). The study:
|
-
defines a network of routes making up the Trans-Asian Railway
Northern
Corridor, |
-
stipulates routes requirements in terms of technical indicators
(loading
gauge and axle-load) and commercial indicators
(minimum average
speed), |
| -
deals with operational aspects including tariff issues, and |
| -
stresses the importance of cross-border traffic facilitation
measures. |
The findings and recommendations of
the study are considered at a Policy-level Expert Group
Meeting (Bangkok, October 1995) which recommends the conduct
of a follow-up project with a view to assessing the readiness
of railways to offer competitive container block-train services
along the routes of the Trans-Asian Railway Northern Corridor
between origins and destinations in Asia and Europe.
This follow-up project is conducted over 1998-1999 under
the title “Development of Asia-Europe Container Transport
through Block-trains -
Phase I”.
Development of Asia-Europe Rail Container
Transport through Block-trains - Northern Corridor of the
Trans-Asian Railway (1999)
The major objective of the project
is to assess the environment of Asia-Europe container traffic
and the determinants in a shipper’s choice of transport
mode. Based on this assessment, the project goes on to determine
the level of services that railways need to offer to be
competitive with maritime shipping in terms of transit times,
tariffs and cargo security.
The findings and recommendations are considered at a Policy-level
Expert Group Meeting (Bangkok, February 2000) that recognizes
the enthusiasm and support of all railways in the Trans-Asian
Railway Northern Corridor towards the organization of demonstration
runs of container block-trains along all the routes in the
corridor.
The study report is published under the title Development
of Asia-Europe Rail Container Transport Through Block-trains
– Northern Corridor of the Trans-Asian Railway (ST/ESCAP/2032,
New York, 1999).
Back
to network identification
|
|
|
