MDS Transmodal was established in 1983 and has developed into a unique business that provides specialist consultancy, data and modelling services to the world’s transport industry, the public sector, financial institutions, property developers and other organisations with interests in transport-related issues.  The company is based in historic city of Chester, United Kingdom.

MDS Transmodal’s main activities are concentrated in the freight market and international passenger travel.  The former includes logistics, rail freight, ports, deep sea and short sea shipping, inland waterways and air freight.  The company’s business is based on the long-term investment in trade and transport databases and the development of freight demand/econometric models.  When combined with its expertise in the freight transport and logistics industry, it is able to undertake well informed projects for a wide variety of client from both the public and private sectors.  Public sector clients include the EU, UK Government and regional/pan-regional transport authorities in Great Britain.  Private sector clients cover transport operators, major shippers, financial institutions, property developers and other organisations with interests in transport-related issues.

The company owns and operates the Great Britain Freight Model (GBFM), which forms the freight module of the UK Department for Transport’s National Transport Model.  This has previously been used to generate demand forecasts for a number of clients, including the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Transport for the North.  It has also been used to develop need cases for proposed port and rail-served logistics developments. MDS Transmodal has previously advised commercial property developers (e.g. Goodman and ProLogis), on the development of rail-served logistics parks.

MDS Transmodal’s role in the LOGISTAR project is as follows:

• Providing advice with respect to logistics business models, in particular new models that are likely to emerge over the next decade.
• Assess how the various logistics business models facilitate collaboration between organisations and the planning and implementation of dynamic transport services.
• Summarising relevant EU policy, focusing on general transport policy and relevant policy on technology; and
• Providing advice with respect to European Union competition law which provides the legal context for LOGISTAR where the tool will involve enabling horizontal and vertical collaboration.

We would expect the LOGISTAR digital tool to further enhance collaboration between transport providers on a multi-modal basis, resulting in more load-sharing of cargoes, greater vehicle fill, reduced empty running, cost savings and lower emission of greenhouse gases.