RAIL DELIVERIES OF BULK OIL CARGOES FROM THE CASPIAN REGION TO EUROPE

Abstract

This article is a study of the current situation with rail deliveries of bulk oil cargoes from the Caspian region to Europe. It addresses the importance of these deliveries for the European energy security, the salient features of rail transportation of crude oil and refined products in this direction, the main transportation routes, and, finally, describes existing and potential problems with rail deliveries of bulk oil cargoes from the Caspian region to Europe and suggests potential resolutions for these problems. In spite of the serious importance of the topic, the overall number of scientific publications related to it is limited. Another problem is that existing scientific literature sources tend to cover general transportation or geopolitical aspects without paying due attention to the rail transportation, logistical problems, related to the current topic, and how to resolve them. The author attempts to fill these knowledge gaps by collecting, processing, and analysing first-hand information from the main market players. The author concludes the article emphasising the importance of the railway transport for deliveries of bulk oil cargoes and pointing out that several important actions are required, namely the actual introduction of a competitive freight market and transition from transport to logistics corridors, support from governments and railway administrations and proactive position of shippers.