Introduction

In an era of shifting global supply chains, environmental urgency, and rising logistics complexity, collaborative rail intermodal services are emerging as a powerful strategy for transport resilience and sustainability. These services integrate rail with other modes (typically road and maritime), enabling goods to move seamlessly across networks. What sets collaborative models apart is the active cooperation between multiple operators—be they infrastructure owners, logistics providers, or rail carriers—sharing resources, data, platforms, and even risk.

As we head into 2025, the UK and Europe face new logistics realities: post-Brexit trade flows, port congestion, decarbonisation targets, and the need to maximise underutilised infrastructure. This article explores the evolving market for collaborative rail intermodal services, focusing on the trends, challenges, opportunities, and strategic outlook—particularly across the UK and European corridors.

What Is Collaborative Rail Intermodal?

A Step Beyond Traditional Intermodal

While intermodal freight generally refers to the movement of cargo via two or more modes under a single transport chain, collaborative rail intermodal takes it further. It relies on shared operations, infrastructure, platforms, and often contractual agreements between multiple parties. Instead of working in silos, carriers and logistics providers cooperate to deliver better service, efficiency, and coverage.

Models of Collaboration

• Open Access / Shared Tracks: Common in Europe, where multiple rail operators use the same infrastructure, enabling competitive but cooperative services.

• Joint Ventures & Alliances: Shared ownership or agreements between operators to co-manage routes, rolling stock, or terminals.

• Shared Terminals: Co-located infrastructure that enables multiple carriers to load/unload from the same terminal.

• Digital Integration: Platforms that allow real-time scheduling, booking, capacity tracking, and predictive analytics across carriers.

Why It Matters

• Asset Efficiency: Reduces empty runs and idle rolling stock.

• Cost Sharing: Cuts down on CapEx and operational duplication.

• Service Expansion: Allows carriers to serve new geographies through partner networks.

• Decarbonisation: Rail is less carbon-intensive than road, aligning with UK/EU emissions goals.

Market Landscape in the UK and Europe

Post-Brexit Logistics Realignment

The UK has seen shifts in trade flows post-Brexit, with increased demand for inland freight services from ports like Felixstowe, Southampton, and London Gateway. The Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail corridor—currently undergoing significant upgrades—is a key route facilitating intermodal movement from the East Coast to the Midlands.

Continental Corridors Gaining Momentum

Europe’s intermodal corridors—such as Germany–Italy, France–Spain, and Benelux–Eastern Europe—are becoming more integrated via rail-focused innovation. For example, CargoBeamer’s cross-border services between Calais and Perpignan offer rapid trailer loading/unloading via a patented system, eliminating the need for cranable trailers.

Market Size and Growth

According to recent forecasts:

• The global intermodal market is expected to grow from $28.3 billion in 2025 to $96.4 billion by 2034 (CAGR of 14.6%).

• European intermodal rail is driven by the EU’s Green Deal and TEN-T policy, which promote modal shift and carbon reductions.

Key Trends in 2025

1. Sustainability Pressures Driving Rail Adoption

The EU mandates a 55% emissions cut by 2030, and the UK has committed to net-zero by 2050. Rail emits roughly 75% less CO₂ per tonne-kilometre than trucking, making it a strategic mode in national decarbonisation plans.

2. Strategic Alliances and M&A Activity

Recent moves signal vertical integration:

• CMA CGM’s acquisition of Freightliner UK in September 2025 expands the maritime giant’s reach into land-based intermodal logistics.

• Continental alliances between carriers like DB Cargo, Mercitalia, and SNCF are extending pan-European services.

3. Digitisation and AI-Driven Capacity Planning

AI and stochastic models are now used to:

• Predict intermodal demand based on market signals.

• Dynamically price and allocate rail capacity.

• Route around disruptions using probabilistic routing.

Academic research supports this shift, with multiple papers on robust routing and emissions-optimised intermodal planning using AI and operations research.

4. Investment in Intermodal Hubs

The UK is prioritising inland ports and intermodal terminals—such as DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) and East Midlands Gateway—to handle growing container volumes and reduce road miles from ports.

Challenges Facing Collaboration

Despite strong momentum, several obstacles remain:

• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Terminal capacity and electrified track availability are limited.

• Fragmented Systems: Lack of data standardisation between operators complicates scheduling and load matching.

• Regulatory Hurdles: Access rules, track pricing, and legacy franchise models in the UK limit open collaboration.

• Trust & Governance: Carriers may resist transparency or fear losing competitive edge in shared models.

• Capital Requirements: Collaborative assets (terminals, digital platforms) require multi-stakeholder funding and governance.

Strategic Approaches for Success

Legal and Governance Structures

Effective collaborations rely on clear SLAs (Service-Level Agreements), joint revenue models, neutral governance, and dispute resolution frameworks.

Shared Digital Platforms

Platforms that allow multi-operator:

• Real-time capacity booking

• Predictive route planning

• Carbon footprint tracking
  …are critical enablers of scalable collaboration.

Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Governments play a vital role in:

• Funding terminal upgrades

• Liberalising access

• Supporting common digital infrastructure

In Europe, initiatives like Shift2Rail and CEF Transport Blending Facility support cross-border freight modernisation.

Case Study Highlights

CMA CGM & Freightliner UK

In 2025, CMA CGM acquired Freightliner UK, which handles over 770,000 containers annually. This strategic move integrates deep-sea and inland intermodal operations, improving reliability and control. The acquisition is expected to drive investment in rail terminals and inland services across Britain. (Reuters)

CargoBeamer Cross-Border Rail (Germany–France–Spain)

CargoBeamer’s patented lateral loading system enables quick transfers between trucks and rail without cranable trailers. In 2025, new services launched between Stuttgart and Italy and expanded their Calais–Perpignan corridor. The model is inherently collaborative, relying on harmonised infrastructure and scheduling.

Market Outlook to 2030

Three Scenarios

• High Growth: Investment flows, regulatory support, and carbon pricing drive modal shift. Intermodal captures 30–40% of long-haul European freight by 2030.

• Moderate Growth: Partial liberalisation and tech adoption lead to stable, gradual uptake.

• Low Growth: Infrastructure gaps and market fragmentation hinder expansion.

Critical Success Factors

• Harmonised EU/UK policies post-Brexit

• Terminal and track investment

• Standardised digital interfaces

• Business models that align risk and return

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the difference between intermodal and multimodal transport?
A: Intermodal uses multiple transport modes under one contract and unit (e.g., container). Multimodal may involve separate contracts and transloading.

Q: How can rail intermodal reduce logistics costs?
A: Rail offers lower energy costs per tonne, can reduce road congestion penalties, and enables higher-volume consolidated shipping.

Q: What’s the biggest barrier to collaborative intermodal in the UK?
A: Infrastructure limitations and fragmented digital systems are key barriers, along with complex franchising rules.

Q: Is collaboration a threat to competition?
A: When well-governed, collaboration can enhance competition by enabling smaller operators to access wider networks.

Q: Will technology make intermodal seamless?
A: Yes—with the right platforms, AI, and standards, collaboration can approach the reliability of single-mode logistics.

Conclusion

Collaborative rail intermodal is no longer a niche strategy—it’s fast becoming a vital component of modern freight. In the UK and Europe, the coming years will see increased consolidation, digitisation, and infrastructure investment. By 2030, this model could be the backbone of carbon-efficient, reliable, and scalable supply chains.