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The 3rd Global Rail Freight Conference (GRFC) was successfully held between 17-19 October in Tangier, Morocco, gathering 250 delegates from 30 countries in order to discuss the theme: “Rail Freight: what role does it play in the development of global logistics?”. The event was jointly organized by UIC and Moroccan Railways (ONCF) under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
As Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Director-General of ONCF and Chairman of the UIC African Region stated: “The integration of rail freight traffic in the global logistic system has become a priority for companies operating in this area, especially given the changes and new economic order which is characterized by more competition, more performance and more innovation, particularly in terms of action an quality of services.”
In specific, the conference addressed issues like the growth in transport demand, the rail’s small market share in inter-continental trade, the enhanced role of logistic stakeholders, the demonstration of successful cases of rail integration in supply chains and the need to develop consistency, liability and flexibility as to better serve the customers.
Speaking on behalf of all participants, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux said that rail freight has many advantages as for example its proven value over long distances but he also stressed that there are certain factors that should be taken care of in order to achieve positive results. These include limited provision for rail traction, lack of coordination between information flows and real transport flows and gaps in modal and non-modal interoperability. Finally, he concluded that the key to success is to integrate freight in other modes of transport.
In the end, all participants agreed that in order to enhance the role of rail in the global supply chain it is important to achieve intermodal integration and interoperability worldwide, boost training, promote flexibility and adopt technological innovations.
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Cargo, Freight rail transport, Human Interest, king, Land transport, Mohammed VI, Morocco, ONCF, Rail transport in Morocco, Tangier, Technology, Train, Transport,
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