JR Freight and MOL Weave the Future - Trajectory of Modal Shift - Development from 2007 to 2020s

JR Freight and MOL Weave the Future - Trajectory of Modal Shift - Development from 2007 to 2020s

In 2007, the modal shift in the transportation industry progressed and the conversion rate recovered to the 40% level. Modal shift is an effort to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by shifting from truck transportation to rail and marine transportation. This move was in response to a shortage of truck drivers and stricter environmental regulations. In rail freight, JR Freight expanded its "Ecoliner" service, and in coastal shipping, efficient transportation of waste materials and products between major ports has progressed. As a result, logistics in Japan has made progress in reducing environmental impact and improving efficiency.

In the 2010s, environmental awareness increased both domestically and internationally, and the use of renewable energy and the introduction of energy-saving technologies also progressed in the logistics sector. Coastal vessel transport was strengthened at port facilities in Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay, and the use of trucks for long-distance transport declined. Demand for rail freight increased for inter-city transportation, further improving transportation efficiency.

Entering the 2020s, modal shift is attracting attention as a key to decarbonizing logistics: by 2021, Japan's rail freight traffic is estimated to reach approximately 20 million tons, with an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 1 million tons. At the Port of Tomakomai in Hokkaido, paper product transport by coastal vessels has expanded to transport more than 100,000 tons per year to the Port of Tokyo. Meanwhile, at the Port of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, marine transportation of auto parts is progressing, and cost reductions are advancing through inter-company cooperation.

JR Freight has improved transportation efficiency by introducing new types of railcars, and MOL has introduced LNG (liquefied natural gas) to its coastal shipping fleet, achieving a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional fuels. Furthermore, Nippon Express is promoting a plan to shift from trucks to railroads and ships for long-distance transportation. In the transportation of waste materials, there is an increasing number of cases where CO2 emissions are reduced to about 1/10th of those from trucks by transporting waste materials by rail from Hokkaido to the Kanto region.

At the same time, however, there are still issues to be addressed, such as the limited number of rail freight services and aging port facilities. The government is strengthening its support through the "Green Logistics Partnership Promotion Project" with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Sources
- JR Freight "Ecoliner" service related materials
- Mitsui O.S.K. LNG introduction project materials
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Green Logistics Partnership Promotion Project" Overview (2020)
- Example of transportation efficiency improvement at Tomakomai Port, Hokkaido (2021)
- IPCC 6th Assessment Report (2021)
- Nippon Express Long-distance Transportation Shift Plan (2020s)