COMPARATIVE STUDY ON LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF TRUCK AND TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE INTERMODAL INTERCHANGE IN NIGERIA
An intermodal interchange is a point at which a seamless transition between two or more transportation modes is obtained. In Nigeria today, the only such facility is at the ports after which all inland transportation of freight is done by truck. Lack of an intermodal interchange has prevented Nigeria as a nation to join in the economy of scale that many nations are using to boost their gross domestic product (GDP). The aim of the study is to highlight the importance of the new trend in train freight carrying capacity for the realization of the impact of economy of scale from intermodal transport system. This study assessed the need to incorporate intermodal interchanges between road and rail as the nation is now constructing new big gauge railway access. Assessment of volume of freight carried by truck in Nigeria was compared with the capacity of a modern 60 and 100 car train. Findings indicate that the modern 60 and 100 car train carries much more tonnage of freight as compared to truck; in fact a few trains can serve Nigeria’s freight lifting need optimally and also help in decongesting and sustaining the overall transport infrastructure. It was also found that, introducing intermodal interchanges between road and rail will go a long way in facilitating movement of goods and services and also create a means for economic diversification in the form of better economy of scale. It was recommended that there should be better synergy between government and major players in the private sector to optimize the opportunity offered by an intermodal interchange between rail and road in Nigeria.
Authors : Balla, S. K. and Yusuf, I. T.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 7(1) Date Uploaded : 14th June 2021