INGENIEUR
resulting from potentially higher speeds , shorter border-crossing times , and fewer en-route delays . For developing countries which export mainly highvolume , low-value bulk goods ( such as minerals and agricultural products ), freight along corridors can be served by well-run railways at a lower cost than road transport .
Rail is in principle ideal for landlocked countries with long distances to the sea . It is an especially appealing possibility where domestic rail freight is in decline , leaving railroad capacity underused ( which means marginal operating costs are low ). Freight railways can also deliver external community benefits that are increasingly valued by policymakers , particularly in the areas of safety and the environment , given their lower greenhouse gas emissions .
The interconnectivity of railway tracks across boundaries is fundamental to the seamless movement of trains across international borders . The same gauge must be used along the corridor or technical solutions provided to effect efficient interchanges .
Railways usually have shorter border delays than trucks , for four reasons . First , railway border stations are usually located at major railway stations / junctions and marshalling yards , not necessarily on the border . They therefore facilitate processing without the space constraints often found at border-crossing points . Second , rail traffic at border stations is usually cleared or inspected during scheduled stopping times when other needed technical operations ( such as locomotive changes , shunting , maintenance , and gauge changes ) take place . If border control fits in with the train ’ s scheduled stopping time , there need be no additional time-consuming delays . Third , rail transport avoids the informal checkpoints that hinder and add to the cost of road freight . Fourth , rail has lighter and faster transit arrangements , as there is often greater security during transit , with fewer opportunities for cargo to be tampered with during movement .
The Future of Mobility ( Mckinsey )
Mobility is an ever-evolving industry that is revolutionising the way we move from A to B , with new habits , applications and technologies that bring challenges and opportunities . At Covestro AG , we want to tackle these challenges head-on by working together with customers across the value chain to come up with the right solutions to make the world a brighter place .
Commuting in the fast lane There may be plenty of paths to success , but there ’ s one that almost all workers share : the commute . How much time we spend commuting , however , varies wildly , depending largely on infrastructure , access to public transport , and the proximity of commercial areas to transit hubs .
Globally , the average commute is 40 minutes , one-way . But in places like Israel , India , and Hong Kong , this number almost doubles . Not surprisingly , spending so much time travelling to and from work takes a toll on our well-being and job satisfaction . Researchers in England even found that adding an additional 20 minutes to our daily commutes has the same negative effect on job satisfaction as receiving a 19 % pay cut .
Innovation hits the road While we can all appreciate the flexibility cars have brought to our cities , the sheer number of vehicles on the road has become a bit mind-boggling . In metropolises like New York , the average speed of traffic has dropped to a meagre 4.5mph . And in four of the largest Indian cities – where the level of traffic is significantly higher than comparable cities around Asia – total congestion costs were estimated to be as much as USD22 billion per year . Additionally , all of the vehicles driven around cities contribute to a hefty amount of our urban air pollution .
New innovations are already beginning to convert cars into smarter and more efficient machines . High-tech polymers offer alternatives to metal and glass , making cars lighter and more aerodynamic , and advanced battery packaging solutions provide safer , more efficient electric vehicles . The latest concoction of futuristic technologies has given us an exciting new vision for mobility : self-driving cars .
The rise in electric vehicles ( EV ) is a step in the right direction towards making the world a brighter place – and we ’ re making our contribution by re-imagining the infrastructure in our cities to make this possible . We think the best way to do
78 VOL 92 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2022