Scottish Intermodal Gateway Network (SIGN)

A Scottish Initiative within the Dryport project

The Transport Research Institute, and SEStran, are the Scottish partners in the European Dryport consortium. The €4.8 million European project is part funded through the Interreg IVb North Sea Region Programme and examines the critical role that dryports can play in maximising the capacity and efficiency of sea ports, while also shifting traffic off the roads and on to rail or inland waterway.

For TRI and SEStran, Scottish involvement in the Dryport Project is a natural extension of the Regional Transport Strategy, focusing on developing sustainable and integrated freight movement to, within and from the South East of Scotland. The Dryport project will bring focus to the important existing maritime gateway ports of Grangemouth and Rosyth and improve their effectiveness and attraction for direct imports and exports by bringing about the improvements required at the Gateway ‘interface’ and to hinterland road and rail transport service and infrastructure.

More specifically the project will identify, assess and target action leading towards Dryport creation and development, founded upon an objective to provide cost effective and efficient links to the Gateway ports, including any intermediate handling, for Scottish, northern English and Irish freight traffic.

A guiding principle for the Dryport project will be the close liaison between public and private sector enterprises in setting practical goals and objectives supported by meaningful research, feasibility studies and targeted capital investment.

The driving force behind Scotland’s involvement in the project is the wish to establish a well functioning Scottish Intermodal Gateway Network (SIGN) in Scotland that can support the modal shift of freight from road to rail and sea.

For further information, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Events

Scottish Intermodal Gateway Network (SIGN) Conference - September 2010 - Edinburgh - in preparation

Site visits / Study tours

Site visits in Falkoping Sweden (Report click here)

Site visits Scotland - February 2010 (Reports will follow soon)

Project Reports

• Research into Barge Operations in the Forth Estuary (TRI)

• Initial Analysis of Scotland’s Long-Distance Freight Sector (TRI - forthcoming)

Reports relevant, or directly linked to the Dryport project have been developed by our partner SEStran and are available on their website. To access a specific report please visit the links below :

• Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study STAG Part 1 Appraisal Report & Appendices click here

• Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study STAG part 2 Appraisal Report & Appendices click here

• Freight Routing Study click here

Publications

To receive a copy of the full article please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Prev - Next >>