BRAIN TRAINS: Intermodal rail freight transport and hinterland connections A SWOT analysis to assess the Belgian rail practice

This paper focuses on transversal research of the role and influences of rail freight transport, as a part of intermodal transport in Belgium. A SWOT analysis of the current situation is conducted, starting from the actual weak usage of this mode of transport. Five different fields have been identified, impacting the economy and society. Each field indicates critical internal strengths and weaknesses for intermodal rail transportation in Belgium, and identifies possible future developments and setbacks. A Delphi-like approach is used, including a heterogeneous panel of experts, discussing and validating the SWOT results. To prioritize the characteristics, a survey on the different SWOT elements is performed, asking the experts to rate each statement on its influence and likelihood of happening, indicating the level of uncertainty.