Since the early nineties there is a renewed interest in underground freight transport. This has caused new initiatives in that direction in the USA, the UK, Japan, and the Netherlands. Important incentives are the growing environmental concern regarding freight transport and the decreasing accessibility of inner cities and other important economic centres. There are several possible applications: (1) the underground connection between the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, Schiphol airport and the Hoofddorp rail terminal; (2) underground urban distribution; and (3) traditional pipeline transport of liquids and gasses. This paper describes in a systemic way the analysis carried out of the innovation potentials of underground freight transport in general. The analysis is based on the generation of the `Window of Technological Opportunity' (WTO). The analysis shows that underground freight transport has some large potentials to become a mega-technological innovation, which might cause a `sustainable' transport. From a Dutch national policy point of view, there are two aspects which deserve attention. These aspects concern the flexibility of the concept and diverse opinions on the feasibility of such a system. The analysis also focused on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and barriers. (A)
Abstract