A Metro-Based System as Sustainable Alternative for Urban Logistics in the Era of E-Commerce

Villa, Rafael; Monzón, Andrés · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3390/su13084479

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Summary

This paper investigates the feasibility of using urban metro systems as a sustainable alternative for last-mile e-commerce delivery, addressing the negative externalities of current road-based logistics. The rapid growth of business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, exacerbated by the "Amazon effect," has led to a surge in light goods vehicle usage, resulting in traffic congestion, low load optimization, and increased environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and noise. The authors aim to determine the parcel demand levels required to justify metro-based logistics, the necessary infrastructure adaptations, and the resulting economic, social, and environmental benefits. The study focuses on Madrid, Spain, proposing a mixed distribution model where parcels are transported via metro and collected by customers in smart lockers located at stations. The methodology involves estimating daily e-commerce demand using the chain-ratio method, which calculates potential demand from two sources: metro travelers who might collect parcels during their commute, and residents living near metro stations. The authors define a new last-mile delivery system combining trucks for long-haul transport and metros for urban distribution. They evaluate two operational scenarios: using unused space in existing passenger trains (shared trains) and operating specific full train services dedicated to cargo (dedicated trains). The analysis compares the operating and external costs of these metro-based scenarios against the current standard of parcel delivery by Light Duty Vehicles (LDVs). Data for demand estimation is derived from official government sources, and the study accounts for factors such as internet usage rates, online shopping habits, and the preference for locker-based delivery. The results indicate that underground transport of parcels offers significant advantages over road-based delivery. The proposed metro scenarios substantially reduce external costs associated with urban logistics, including traffic congestion, accidents, noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution. By leveraging the existing carrying capacity of the metro network and utilizing stations as collection points, the system mitigates the inefficiencies of fragmented road deliveries. The study demonstrates that shifting a portion of e-commerce logistics to rail infrastructure can alleviate the burden on urban road networks while providing a viable, sustainable delivery option for consumers. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to sustainable urban logistics and the potential for integrating freight into public transport systems. It highlights that while urban railway logistics faces challenges such as high initial investment and operational complexity, the environmental and social benefits of reducing road dependency are substantial. The findings support the European Union’s goals for climate neutrality and provide a framework for cities to consider metro networks as part of a multimodal logistics strategy. This approach offers a pathway to reduce the environmental footprint of e-commerce while maintaining service quality, suggesting that collaboration between logistics operators and public transport authorities is essential for implementing such systems effectively.

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• last mile delivery