How to Manage Delays and Disruptions at Intermodal Transportation Hubs in a Better Way?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the current versus alternative delay management approaches at intermodal transportation hubs. In particular, a coordinated delay management approach where the various stakeholders at transport hubs are working together to minimize delays is being analyzed here as an alternative approach. Our methodological course of action consists of two main steps: As a first step, we modeled the individual processes and sequences at a generic hub airport on a microscale level. This included the ground-based feeder transportation modes. On the basis of these microsimulations, we estimated the traffic volumes of our three scenarios: reference scenario, delay scenario, and cooperative delay management scenario. As a second step, the economic impacts of the three scenarios assumed have been analyzed and compared. On these grounds, conclusions and recommendations were derived. Data bases for our paper are a thorough literature review, expert interviews with selected stakeholders at intermodal transportation hubs, cost estimations, and a self-conducted online survey of travelers. Our findings indicate that a coordinated intermodal delay management can be advantageous compared with the current rather uncoordinated management of delays. These benefits are of traffic and economic nature. They apply to all major companies operating at such transportation hubs as well as to the travelers.