Study of an international intermodal freight route based on an Environmental Life Cycle Assessment perspective

This paper analyses the results obtained from the study of the environmental impacts of the consolidated intermodal freight route from the Port of Antwerp (Belgium) to Ludwigshafen (Germany) using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. In the framework of our research, we have performed the LCA of rail freight transport (distinguishing between electric and diesel traction), inland waterways transport and road freight transport in Belgium independently. Then, we have used the results obtained previously to carry out a study of the environmental impacts related to the intermodal freight transport. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the environmental impacts of this intermodal route depending of the freight transport mode chosen.