Automated Courier Transport on the Rail Network: Concept and its Feasibility

A concept for an automated rail-road intermodal courier service system is proposed. While rail transport suffers a number of difficulties, such as long exchange time, large container size and slow speed, the proposed system aims to solve them using ITS-aided transfer robots and an ICT-based routing system. The system is based on a loosely coupled design by which the flexibility of rail networks can be utilized. We investigated the feasibility of the proposed system in economical, physical and technological aspects and obtained positive results. This system copes with aging society, and future industry needs for automation and just-in-time delivery of small packets.

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