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ABSTRACT
Efficient transport is the key of a developed economy. Every society searches alternatives for road transport which is polluted and with higher costs. A successful solution is combined transport, which is friendly for the environment, economy and the society as a whole. Combined transport improves the green performance of freight transport in Europe. The present study approaches the forms of combined transport and the standards for efficient combined transport services. It gives a statistical overview of European Union combined transport and it concludes on solutions to boost the efficiency in combined transport. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the effectiveness and importance that has combined transport for the transport industry, but also for the entire society. In support of this scientific approach are legislation and research studies and reports conducted by various organisations of the European Union in this area. The final purpose of the paper is to transmit the essence data about combined transport in Europe to interested parts, in order to bring a small contribution to their decision making.
Keywords: combined transport, Europe, efficiency, rail, road, combined transport services, European Union
1. INTRODUCTION
Transport sector is the blood of every economy of the world. Efficient transport is the "lifeblood of the European economy".[4]
As road traffic becomes more congested, more polluted and with higher costs, most European operators have tried to find an alternative to move the goods out of ports and closer to their final destinations. One efficient alternative that was introduced in order to accommodate freight without increasing road congestion was combined transport.
Marco Polo programme of the European Union helps reduce traffic congestion on Europe's crowded roads and promotes environmental-friendly means of transport (rail, sea and inland waterways). "Marco Polo aims at improving the green performance of European freight transport, by freeing the roads of an annual volume of 20 billion tonne-kilometres of freight, the equivalent of more than 700000 trucks a year travelling between Paris and Berlin". [4] So, Marco Polo invests in projects that bring environmental, social and economic benefits.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe defines combined transport as "intermodal transport where the major part of the European journey is by rail, inland waterways or sea and any initial...