Short lines could oust a million trucks
A study published by the US rail company Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH) has examined the benefits of rail service operating to an inland port for containers destined within 240 km of the US ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The data shows that some 3.1 million teu - about a third of imports coming into these ports – could be processed by a rail shuttle-inland port in the “Inland Empire”, the metropolitan area adjacent to costal Southern California and centring around the cities of San Bernadino and Riverside.
The report suggests a further opportunity for up to 1.5 million teu if cross-docks (for transloading and onward movement of domestic containers by rail and truck) were relocated to the vicinity of the inland port.
At full share shift, this could eliminate some 5,100 short-haul truck moves (drayage) from the LA/LB ports every weekday. (ben)