In order to make rail transport to the hinterland even more efficient, the Port of Rotterdam Authority 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.
Mainly, the application will ease the efficiency of the planning process and anticipate schedule deviations more effectively.
To better-optimise transport of cargo by rail, the port and the relevant parties need an insight into the planning and status information of rail freight flows and the handling thereof at the terminals.
For the time being, each terminal has its own planning system and standards for rail transport. The information is exchanged through email or telephone.
On the contrary, the OnTrack application combines data of the various parties in the rail chain and enriches it with smart business algorithms.
Carriers will be able to use the application to get detailed information into specific freight handling at the terminal.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The application provides the number of containers or cars that have been loaded or unloaded and when the operation is finished.
Deviations from the scheduled time slot immediately become apparent, as the carrier no longer has to rely on various websites or telephone calls for updates.
Additionally, 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.
Concluding, 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.
