EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF CARGO TRAM FOR CITY LOGISTICS COMPARED TO ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION: A CASE STUDY OF ISTANBUL CITY

Abstract

In recent years, changes relating to logistics approaches have been observed. Logistics activities at a microlevel have begun to gain an importance compared to logistics activities at the macro level although globallogistics are still important. Urban logistics, also known as city logistics, has come to gain an importance forregional and global actors of logistics and supply chains. While the economic costs were the most importantconcept in the past, nowadays, external costs have become an important factor in addition to the economic costof logistics. Not only improved logistics operations but also environmentally-friendly logistics activities arepromoted by local authorities, international institutions and governments. Regulations related to green logisticsare being put into effect by these actors. Logistics operators and actors are seeking new operation alternatives formore effective, productive and environmentally-friendly logistics and transportation operations.Cargo trams can provide effective solutions for urban logistics problems. Cargo trams which use urbanpassenger transportation tram lines can be beneficial and important instruments to solve urban logisticsproblems. Road transportation plays a key role in causing city logistics problems. When traffic congestion,environmental and air pollution, casualties and injuries caused by road accidents are considered, we see there aresignificant detrimental results to road transportation. If the share of road transportation can be reduced, thesedetrimental results can be reduced. One of the beneficial ways of solving this problem is to reduce the number ofroad vehicles entering the center of the city. In order to reduce road transportation in urban areas, the use ofcargo trams can provide numerous advantages in urban freight transportation. During the day, cargoes can becarried with these vehicles as one or more cargo wagons added to the passenger tram. At night, when it is notused for passenger transportation, it can be used more intensively. When cargo trams’ use is increased in urbanareas, emissions, accidents, loss of life and other detrimental results can be reduced. In this study, impacts ofcargo trams on urban logistics system are evaluated in terms of costs and benefits. Furthermore, reduction in theexternal costs of transportation are described in the use of cargo trams in urban areas. In this paper, urbanlogistics activities in Istanbul city were selected as a case study. Attainable potential advantages of using cargotrams on available passenger tram lines are defined in comparison with road transportation.

Key words: Urban Logistics, Cargo Tram, Freight Transportation, Cost-Benefits Analysis