Can Underground Freight Conveyor Belts Deliver a Boost to Supply Chain Security?
The future of supply chain security for the physical movement of goods may be heading underground if innovative projects in Japan and Switzerland gain sufficient support.
Japan’s Transport Ministry has just rolled out plans for a 500km, US$23 billion underground conveyor belt system to transport freight between Tokyo and Osaka. It could carry the equivalent amount of cargo every day as 25,000 trucks, according to a video report by the World Economic Forum.
Sustainability gains are driving the project to ease traffic congestion and cut transport emissions, but developers say it will also address Japan’s growing labour shortage which poses a severe challenge to the country’s logistics industry. At its current rate, driver shortages, for example, could result in 30% of parcels being undelivered in Japan by 2030.
It is does go ahead, the freight conveyor belt system could be operational by 2034.
No doubt the visionaries behind the Japanese solution will be closely monitoring a similar project in Switzerland which was first proposed over a decade ago by public limited company, Cargo sous terrain (CST). Its plan is to build a similar 500km underground freight link tunnel utilising self-driving pods carrying up to two pallets each.
Powered by renewable energy, the privately funded CST proposal estimates an 80% reduction in transport emissions, allowing for the fact that conventional vehicles will still be required for the final stages of delivery. Nonetheless, the tunnel concept would significantly reduce pollution and ease congestion on Switzerland’s motorways.
But, progress has been slow and the cost of construction is high at an estimated $33-39bn. According to media reports, the Swiss Parliament, took eight years to approve new legislation for construction. At the start of 2023, CST launched exploratory drilling and geological measurements to begin planning the first 70km section connecting the Härkingen-Niederbipp hub with Zurich Airport. It could open by 2031. The nationwide 500km network timeline is to be finished by 2045, news source Tunnels & Tunnelling says.
Last month, the Board of Directors of Cargo sous terrain said they were conducting an in-depth review of the activities and results so far. “The objective of this project review is to implement the conclusions from the ongoing sectoral planning process into the overall planning, and to optimise the construction and operation of the logistics system to make the service even more competitive on the market. There is a broad consensus that CST can ensure sustainable supply and disposal of goods in a future circular economy. However, to fulfil the high expectations and gain the necessary political and social support, there are additional requirements for CST that need to be taken into account,” they stated.
