Shifting Ways of Intermodal Transport on Cross-border Haulage
A cross-border initiative to optimize product flows, reduce road congestion and embrace environmental sustainability.
A fundamental challenge for our territory
SWITCH addresses a crucial challenge for the Alpine region: climate change and congestion on cross-border roads. The goal is to help reduce road traffic along the Italy-Switzerland corridors by strengthening intermodal road-rail mobility. To do this, the project is developing OptiModal AI, an AI-based optimization platform that helps logistics operators, businesses, and public bodies objectively evaluate different transportation options, measuring their time, costs, and environmental and social impacts.
To support this tool, SWITCH develops an operational protocol and shared guidelines to facilitate modal switching, and verifies their effectiveness through real-world pilot projects along the area's main railway axes (Simplon and Gotthard).
The final beneficiaries are many: citizens, through improved air quality; local and regional governments, which will be able to use the tool for transport planning; manufacturing companies, large and small, which will gain visibility into modal shift opportunities; and intermodal supply chain operators.
Climate change
Countering environmental threats to the Alpine region through sustainable transport.
Congestion
Overcoming the Alpine barrier by solving traffic jams at mountain passes (e.g. Gaggiolo).
Digitalization
Using AI algorithms to expose previously overlooked modal switching opportunities.
Governance
Harmonization of customs procedures and regulations between Italy and Switzerland.
Summary in numbers
Months of duration (2024 - 2027)
Beneficiary partners
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE interreg
The roadmap
The work is organized into three Work Packages, each divided into specific activities:
WP 1
Analysis and Knowledge
The first Work Package builds the project's knowledge base by studying the regulatory context, freight flows, and existing infrastructure between Italy and Switzerland.
- Activity 1.1 - Customs and transport regulations: ccomparison between the customs and transport (road and rail) regulations and procedures in force in Italy and Switzerland, with in-depth analysis of the authorization systems for flight personnel also in neighboring countries (Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia), in order to identify asymmetries and possible harmonization hypotheses.
📄 Output: Report on Italian-Swiss transport and customs regulations - Activity 1.2 - Cross-border flows of goods: collection and analysis of freight traffic data between Italy and Switzerland from official sources (Customs Agency, Istat, UFT, UFS), to qualify and quantify flows by type of goods, origin, and destination.
📄 Output: Report on supply and demand for trade in goods between Italy and Switzerland - Activity 1.3 - Potentially transferable supply chains: quantitative and qualitative analysis (through interviews with shippers and operators) of the product categories with the greatest potential for modal shift from road to rail.
📄 Output: Report on potentially transferable supply chains - Activity 1.4 - Infrastructure system and intermodal service offering: mapping of the technical characteristics of the railway network (capacity, electrification, loading gauge), existing freight facilities and terminals, and analysis of the market for currently available intermodal services.
📄 Output: Report on the infrastructure system and the current intermodal service offering
WP 2
OptiModal AI Platform
The second Work Package develops the project's central technological tool: the AI-based decision support platform.
- Activity 2.1 - State of the art: analysis of decision support platforms already existing on the market and available data sources, to identify best practices and gaps to be filled.
📄 Output: Report on the state of the art regarding platforms and data sources - Activity 2.2 - OptiModal AI Framework: development of the reference model for the quantitative analysis of the logistics chain, integrating economic, environmental, and social models.
- Activity 2.3 - Optimization Algorithms and AI: design and implementation of supply-demand matching algorithms, optimal routing on constrained networks, and multi-objective decision-making.
- Activity 2.4 - Platform Development: development of the OptiModal AI application software, with user interface, application logic, and connectors for integration with other systems.
- Activity 2.5 - Integration and testing: platform validation through usage tests, also in support of the experimental phases of the pilot projects.
WP 3
Experimentation and Policy
The third Work Package brings the project into the field, concretely testing the developed solutions and translating the results into policy recommendations.
- Activity 3.1 - Pilot projects: real-world testing of the modal shift on one or more selected product chains, involving production/distribution companies and transport operators, with the measurement of times, costs, and externalities compared to all-road transport.
- Activity 3.2 - Guidelines: drafting of a summary document with policy recommendations, incentive models, and governance frameworks to facilitate modal shift at the institutional level.
Who benefits from SWITCH?
The project generates positive impacts for a wide range of stakeholders in the cross-border area.
EXPECTED RESULT
Improving cross-border intermodal and informational interconnection and sustainable freight transport
A multidisciplinary partnership
Institutional, academic, and industrial entities collaborating for a common goal.
LIUC University
ITALIAN LEADER
It coordinates the project and analyzes flows through its Green Transition Hub, providing technical and economic expertise.
SUPSI
SWISS LEADER
Responsible for the development of OptiModal AI, a software platform based on optimization algorithms and Artificial Intelligence.
Regione Lombardia
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER
Provides support in collecting railway infrastructure data and develops incentive and governance models.
Regione Piemonte
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER
Contributes to the drafting of guidelines to facilitate modal switching and the dissemination of results to stakeholders.
Assologistica
INDUSTRIAL PARTNER
Collects market information and analyzes freight transport dynamics, verifying the feasibility of proposed solutions.
VNL Schweiz
PARTNER CH
It connects partners with Swiss logistics companies and ensures the dissemination of results throughout its business network.
ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Mercitalia Logistics
Provincia di Varese
Spedlogswiss Ticino
Work with us
Are you a company interested in testing the modal switch?
The SWITCH project includes an Operational Memorandum of Understanding to engage industrial stakeholders in the co-development and testing of the platform.
Contact us for more information
By becoming a "Tester" you will be able to:
- Aet early access to OptiModal AI features.
- Evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of your transport flows.
- Receive informational support for accessing government incentives (e.g., Ferrobonus in Italy or LTrasf subsidies in Switzerland).