The hub-and-spoke strategy is widely used in the field of transportation. At the field of rail transportation, however, it is difficult that we find an application case of this strategy because of modal characteristics. According to the fast growth of...
The hub-and-spoke strategy is widely used in the field of transportation. At the field of rail transportation, however, it is difficult that we find an application case of this strategy because of modal characteristics. According to the fast growth of containerization and the development of transshipment technology, presently, the hub-and-spoke strategy is introduced by operators on actual European rail freight transportation. However, it is hardly to find empirical studies evaluating the applicability of transportation strategy. In this context, this study analyzed the applicabilities of hub-and-spoke strategy in the actual network of European rail freight. For the application and evaluation of the characteristics of hub-and-spoke strategy, it utilized a service network design model for rail freight. Utilizing this model, it analyzed the efficiency of furnished rail freight services, the potential locations of hubs, the characteristics of O-D flows by the types of trains and service links, and the types of paths of O-D flows. Finally, it proposed some implications and the further study topics.