An Analysis on the Railway-Based Intermodal Freight Transport in Japan Regarding The Effect of Disasters

This paper first summarizes the damages and recoveries of transport caused by the devastating earthquake occurred in Japan in March 2011. Responses of freight railway, such as transporting immediately-needed supplies and fuel, are reviewed. The role of intermodal freight transport in supplying fuel to disaster areas is especially stressed. The necessity and importance of intermodal freight transport in the disaster recovery is discussed. Intermodal freight transport contributes to social and economic benefits by enhancing flexibility and redundancy of freight transport, as well as sustaining the vital freight flow in the disasters. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Beijing Jiaotong University [BJU], Systems Engineering Society of China (SESC)