+FIRRST: Pioneering a New Era of Integrated Rail-Road Freight Transport in Europe

The +FIRRST Alliance (Flexible, Integrated Rail-Road System for Transport) is an ambitious and transformative initiative spearheaded by FERRMED, in close collaboration with ESC, IRU, UIRR and MCRIT. It aims to revolutionize freight mobility across Europe by establishing a flexible, real-time, demand-driven combined transport system capable of moving truck semi-trailers, containers, and swap-bodies efficiently via rail. This innovative “Mobility as a Service” approach integrates the adaptability of road logistics with the environmental and economic benefits of rail, addressing the stagnation in modal shift and aligning with the EU’s objective of transferring 30% of land freight to rail. The +FIRRST concept rests on a backbone of interoperable, high-capacity trains operating over the EU’s extended core network, equipped with real-time rolling planning systems and pass-through terminals designed for swift, seamless transshipments.

To turn vision into action, the +FIRRST Stakeholders’ Alliance has been formed, gathering promoters, implementers, and supporters across the logistics spectrum. With ESC, IRU, UIRR, FERRMED, and MCRIT leading the effort, the alliance is actively preparing a proof-of-concept focused on a pilot route linking Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Duisburg with Barcelona via strategic intermodal hubs. Initial funding requirements, software development for real-time path allocation, and the procurement of multipurpose wagons and dual-mode locomotives have been mapped out. Stakeholder engagement is accelerating, with infrastructure managers, logistics operators, and EU institutions already involved or being approached. This collaborative framework sets the stage for a real-world demonstration of the system’s viability, scheduled to begin with a limited but scalable deployment that could soon redefine the logistics landscape of the continent.