Resilient multimodal transport

This challenge focuses on enhancing the resilience and efficiency of transport systems that integrate multiple modes of transportation, such as road, rail, sea, and air. This is essential for ensuring the sustainable and efficient movement of goods and people, especially in the face of increasing urbanisation, climate change, and global disruptions like pandemics.

We invite industry leaders and innovators to collaborate with infrastructure owners to create robust data solutions that will guide decision-making and support the UK in building resilient multimodal transport systems that are essential for sustainable and efficient mobility.

Working towards better outcomes for people and society

The challenge of building resilient multimodal transport systems is complex and multifaceted. By addressing financial, technological, environmental, and regulatory challenges through collaborative efforts, we can create efficient and sustainable transport networks.

These systems are vital for supporting economic growth, reducing environmental impacts, and enhancing the quality of life for people worldwide. The transition to resilient multi-modal transport is not only a necessity for sustainable development but also an opportunity to innovate and improve global mobility.

Solutions will align with key challenge areas:

1. Demonstrating the importance of multimodal transport
   • Multimodal transport systems combine different transportation modes to optimise the movement of goods and people. This approach can reduce congestion, lower emissions, and improve overall efficiency. However, the complexity of coordinating various transport modes presents significant challenges that must be addressed to build resilient systems.
2. Building a business case for further investment in the sector
   • Developing resilient multimodal transport systems requires substantial investment in infrastructure, technology, and maintenance.
   • Financial challenges include securing funding for large-scale projects and ensuring a return on investment for transport bodies across different mode
   • Public-private partnerships can play a crucial role in mobilising the necessary resources. Governments can provide some incentives and subsidies, but further investment in innovative technologies and infrastructure is required.
3. Federation of systems and technical integration
   • Technological innovations are critical for the efficiency and resilience of multi-modal transport systems. Innovations such as real-time tracking, automated vehicles, and smart logistics platforms can enhance coordination between different transport modes.
   • Integrating technologies requires significant investment and collaboration among key sector stakeholders with different priorities and timescales.
   • More efforts are needed to create or curate data infrastructure, to standardise data formats and enable communication protocols for seamless interoperability of information.
4. Sustainable and environmentally friendly transport
   • Sustainable multimodal transport systems must minimize environmental impacts. This involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing waste, and protecting ecosystems. Implementing cleaner technologies, such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of transport systems. Additionally, optimising routes and improving load management can enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
5. Resilience to disruptions
   • Building resilience into multi-modal transport systems involves preparing for and mitigating the impacts of disruptions, such as natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts. This requires robust risk management strategies, including diversification of transport routes, redundancy in critical infrastructure, and real-time monitoring systems. Enhancing the flexibility and adaptability of transport networks can help maintain continuity during disruptions.
6. Collaborating and connecting solutions across the transport ecosystem
   • Addressing the challenges of resilient multimodal transport requires a collaborative approach. Stakeholders, including governments, private sector companies, financial institutions, and civil society, must work together to develop innovative solutions. Public-private partnerships can leverage the strengths of different sectors, while multi-stakeholder dialogues can facilitate knowledge sharing and consensus building. Engaging local communities and considering their needs and perspectives is also essential for the successful implementation of transport projects.

Contact ryan.goodman@cp.catapult.org.uk to find out more.