A general framework for modeling intermodal transport networks

Intermodal transport is receiving increased attention due to the increasing demand for container transport in national and international trade, concerns on the sustainable development of the economy and the environment, and the recurring road congestion problems. In this paper, we first introduce intermodal transport networks and analyze the approaches for modeling intermodal transport networks in the literature. Next, a general framework for modeling intermodal transport networks is presented. In particular, a generic intermodal transport network model is formulated for the evolution of container flows in nodes and links taking into account time dependencies. The optimal route choices for container transport over the network are determined by solving a linear programming problem. Simulation experiments illustrate the properties of the proposed model.