There is a trend for the increased use of the hybrid networks. The multi-mode networks are a specific example of hybrid networks, especially if these nodes are used in parallel and not sequentially.

Hybridization occurs at all levels: production, inventory and transport. Through a general mechanism of planning and control, shortcuts are created allowing flow strengthening and rapid and trustworthy delivery. These trends usually appear from the customer’s increasing requests, translated into the transporter’s request. Generally, the transport delivery stays behind and this is the case especially with the outdated inter-mode transport nodes which try only to optimize the flows; since they occur at every train station (in the case of railways), they are not capable to cope with these growing requests.A specific consequence of the hybrid network appearance is the stabilization over time of logistics processes. Better planning leads to smaller uncertainty and to the opportunity to use slower, but more effective transport methods.

network project, hybrid networks, logistic EU