国際化の鍵

Rail transport is the mode of transport most dependent on infrastructure. It requires expensive railway networks for travel and access, which is why it is used more in some countries than in others.

The advantages it offers are:

• Capacity: it allows the transport of large quantities over long distances.
• Low cost.
• Flexibility, as it enables transport of a wide variety of merchandise.
• Low accident rate, second only to air transport.

Its disadvantages are:

• Track width. Spain and Portugal have different track widths from the rest of Europe, making it necessary to transfer the merchandise to another train or use wagons with interchangeable axles, both of which cost time and money.
• Dependence on infrastructure. The accessibility of the railway is limited by the number of lines and railheads for loading and unloading.
• Clearance. The dimensions of the merchandise must not extend beyond the wagon as it has to clear bridges and tunnels.

International transport of merchandise by rail is governed by the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) signed in Berne in 1980. It was permanently incorporated into Spanish law in June of 2006.

Appendix B to the convention, called CIM, is composed of uniform rules concerning the international carriage of goods by rail. The CIM rules apply to the international transport of merchandise between contracting states, or when only the origin or destination is in a contracting state and the parties agree to apply them.

The transport document for rail carriage is known as the Railway Bill and serves the following purposes:

• consignment note
• receipt for the merchandise

There are four basic shipment options for rail transport:

• Single-client full trains: used for large volumes of goods with a common origin and destination. They are generally contracted to supply large companies, particularly in the iron and steel, automotive, construction, and petrochemical sectors. For their clients, they individualised schedules and departure frequencies. Rates are negotiated on a case by case basis according to distance and the number of wagons transported.
• Full wagons: one or more wagons of a train are contracted for the goods. Rates are based on the type of wagon, the weight, and the distance.
• Parcels: for shipments smaller than a full wagon. Charge based on the weight of the merchandise transported.
• TECO lines: trains for transporting containers. They are used for transporting maritime containers to inland points or transporting them between ports. The unit of transport is the ITU (intermodal transport unit) of 20, 30, 40, or 45 feet or equivalent. Rates are based on the type of ITU, whether they travel full or empty, and the distance.

• 内訳
• 輸送
• 航空輸送
• 道路輸送
• 鉄道輸送
• 海上輸送
• マルチモーダル輸送
• 乙仲業者と通関業者
• インコタームズ