Commercial rail freight transport is a fundamental pillar of the German economy, and at the same time a great challenge for transport planning. While the efficiency of traffic routes and good traffic accessibilities are in the focus of commercial rail freight transport, the impacts on population and environment have to be considered simultaneously. The Berlin Urban Development creates important framework conditions for a sustainable development of commercial rail freight transport.
The Transport Division of the Berlin Urban Development Department is constantly working on facilitating the traffic routes in Berlin and increasing their efficiency.
Integrated Transport Strategy
The integrated transport strategy of Berlin helps to increase the efficiency of freight transports in Berlin, and to make them more environment-friendly. Here you can find and download the complete document.
Ports strategy
Berlin can be reached on waterways by several navigable rivers. Inland shipping turns out to be an economically and ecologically reasonable alternative in terms of rail freight transport.
Berlin has a long tradition as an inland port city. Before the end of the 19th century Duisburg was the second most important destination for the inland shipping in Germany. In the last years the importance of shipping has significantly decreased. New logistics technologies and changed requirements regarding the carriage of freight offer new opportunities for the inland shipping to become an economic and ecological alternative to the conventional road transport. On the basis of a substantial port strategy the Berlin Senate focuses on specific measures to promote the Berlin inland shipping.
The Berlin port strategy
With the port strategy adopted in 2001 the Berlin Senate supports the development of inland shipping. The city ports Westhafen and Südhafen Spandau shall be developed as tri-modal inner-city logistics centres. Tri-modal means combining the locations as transshipment centres for inland shipping, railway and road transport. Containers, heavy load and high-quality bulk goods are the main focus of the logistics centres.
