Capacity Analysis

Capacity Analysis

Quantifying supply 

You may be a port that needs to understand the amount of capacity that is available at a competitor’s facility; or a shipper which wants to see whether there is capacity for a new rail freight service on a congested section of the rail network; or a public sector body that needs to establish where its scarce resources can best be applied to address infrastructure bottlenecks.

A strategic view of capacity

We help you to assess the capacity of port and rail network infrastructure using a cost-effective approach based on an understanding of the key parameters that affect the ability of infrastructure to accommodate greater volumes of traffic. MDS provides analysis of infrastructure capacity in two main areas:    

Port Capacity

MDS Transmodal uses its industry standard parameters of capacity by type of berth and terminal to provide cost-effective estimates of port and terminal capacity utilisation, without the need for full engineering and port operations studies.  This can be for an individual port, perhaps as part of a port master planning exercise, or for a range of ports to estimate the capacity available in the whole market.  Calculations of capacity can be combined with our forecasts of port traffic demand to estimate capacity utilisation. 


Key features:

  • Industry standard parameters for storage and handling requirements for different cargo types which can be applied to any port around the world.
  • Baseline data on characteristics of every British commercial berth and terminal from the company’s GB Port Infrastructure Database. (LINK HERE)
  • Cost-effective input for port master plans and strategic analysis of market supply.     
  • Fully integrated with demand forecasts by cargo type to calculate existing and potential future capacity utilisation.   

Clients include: port authorities, terminal operators, government bodies and NGOs.


Rail Network Capacity

MDS Transmodal applies industry data for the track section, junctions and train movements to provide a cost-effective means of estimating network capacity utilisation. This can be related to a feasibility study for new services from a port or a rail-connected distribution park or a strategic planning exercise for an entire region.  The calculations of available capacity can be combined with our forecasts of rail freight and timetabled passenger services to establish the location of existing and potential infrastructure bottlenecks.


Key features:

  • Parameters for capacity of sections of the rail network, with a focus on potential bottlenecks at junctions.
  • Rail network data and the working timetable for passenger and freight services available in-house.
  • Cost-effective input for rail freight feasibility studies and analysis of network bottlenecks. 
  • Fully integrated with rail freight demand forecasts to calculate existing and potential future capacity bottlenecks on the network. 

Clients include:  developers of rail-connected distribution parks, regional and local government, shippers and ports.

The estimates of capacity are usually compared with our demand forecasts to produce calculations of capacity utilisation. In addition, we regularly provide road, rail and port demand forecasts that are used by engineering and transport planning consultancies to complete their own assessments of capacity utilisation of highways, railways and ports.

Why MDST?

You can be assured that the capacity analysis is based on accepted parameters for different kinds of traffic or service using the relevant infrastructure, and that the analysis will be fully compatible with our demand forecasts. These techniques provide a strategic and cost-effective view of port and rail network capacity, allowing your scarce resources to be focused on the key infrastructure bottlenecks. 

Clients include: Local and regional government, ports, developers of distribution parks.
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