Piggyback ride to Greek shores
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THREE NEW road/rail terminals opened this month in Ge many. They mark the first phase of the planned expansion the "Kombiverkehr" system which, though still anathema many hauliers, promises wider coverage and improved so vices on domestic routes.
On an international level, recent talks between the Kombiverkehr organisation and the association of Greek road transport operators have broached the possibility of long haul piggybank movements between Germany and a terminal at Thessaloniki. Greece is hoping to gain membership of the EEC, while threat of a tax on transit traffic throughAustria al brings the rail alternative to I fore.
As a jumping-off point for Middle East, Greece has alrea established a number of fe routes, the most recent fr( Volos to Tartous in Syria (C September 16., 1977). The p posed piggyback route wot be the longest of its kind Europe, but there are loadi gauge restrictions in Austria a Yugoslavia.
Seven European compan have combined to form the ternational Road-Rail Uni (UIRR) to promote lorry-carryi rail services and to provide sl. facilities in conjunction with 1 national railways, hauliers a sometimes the national rc transport organisation. T companies include A: (Sweden), Perpac (Italy), Huj (Switzerland), Kombiverkc (Germany), Novatrans (Franc Trailstar (Netherlands) and TF (Belgium). _
Almost 2,500 suital equipped rail wagons are in in the European countries c cerned. In France over 85 cent of domestic traffic is cc posed of Kangaroo-type se trailers, while internal mo ments in Germany involving are accounted for by demoi, ables (70 pc) and semi-trailer Complete articulated a drawbar trailer combinatic represent a relatively small r portion of traffic carried Europe. The two main route. Cologne-Munich and Ba Lugano, justify their existei largely by providing a use though costly, alternative permit-starved UK users and allowing European maxim weight combinations to beat 28 tonnes gvw limit in forc( Switzerland.
Another "internation route, introduced last autum meet Scandinavian demar now collects unaccompan trailer traffic from the ferrie TravemOnde to link up v existing services between H burg and southern Germany