Over 250 international rail connections run to and from the port of Rotterdam. As a relatively sustainable form of transport, rail is becoming increasingly important for transporting cargo between the Port of Rotterdam and its hinterland. In order to make rail transport to the hinterland even more efficient, the Port of Rotterdam Authority recently developed a new application called OnTrack. This device offers real-time insight into rail freight flows within the Port of Rotterdam and the handling thereof at the terminals. OnTrack meets the needs of the terminals and carriers. This tool will raise efficiency of their planning process and anticipate schedule deviations more effectively.
To further optimise transport of cargo by rail between the Port of Rotterdam and the hinterland, the relevant market parties need more insight into the planning and status information of rail freight flows and the handling thereof at the terminals. At present, most terminals use their own planning system and standards for rail transport and most of the relevant information is exchanged by telephone or email. The new OnTrack application combines data of the various parties in the rail chain and enriches it with smart business algorithms.
Carriers can use OnTrack to gain insight into specific freight handling at the terminal. The application shows the number of containers or cars that have been loaded or unloaded and when the operation is finished. Deviations from the scheduled timeslot immediately become apparent – in other words, the carrier no longer has to rely on various websites or telephone calls for updates.
Terminal operators in the Port of Rotterdam can use OnTrack to gain a better insight intothe expected and actual departure times of trains calling on their facilities. OnTrack’s real-time notifications allow all parties to anticipate on deviations more effectively, and consequently optimise the deployment of personnel and capacity. In the near future, OnTrack will also be made available to rail operators and inland terminals.
OnTrack is an excellent example of the Port Authority’s implementation of new, digital solutions to streamline processes in the port area, contributing to Rotterdam’s ambition to establish itself as the world’s smartest port. Moreover, greater insight into rail transport flows results in a more reliable product overall – further strengthening Rotterdam’s competitive position as an international cargo hub.
OnTrack was developed and extensively tested in partnership with a number of different market parties under the project name HAROLD the beginning of April 2019, the application will be taken into use by nearly every carrier and terminal involved in the transportation of cargo via the Port of Rotterdam. The application can also be rolled out to other ports in the Netherlands and abroad, should parties be interested in taking advantage of this new solution.