{"id":4785,"date":"2026-03-30T18:27:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/?p=4785"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:49:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:49:24","slug":"the-metro-as-a-logitsical-ally-last-mile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/the-metro-as-a-logitsical-ally-last-mile\/","title":{"rendered":"The metro as a logistical ally: reivinting the last mile in cities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-8ef4cebdf3049cb5fcc4a31f2dda4aba\" style=\"background-color:#abb7c23d;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">The rise of e-commerce is not only transforming consumption patterns, but also reshaping urban mobility and the associated logistics. In this context, last-mile delivery has become one of the main operational challenges for cities, driven by the growing demand for fast deliveries, increasing traffic congestion, and the need to transition towards more sustainable models. This article analyses how the integration of existing transport infrastructures \u2014such as metro networks\u2014 together with advanced planning and tracking systems can offer an innovative solution to optimise routes, <a href=\"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/ports-energy-transition-green-hubs\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/ports-energy-transition-green-hubs\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>reduce emissions<\/strong><\/a>, and improve operational efficiency, strengthening the connection between ports, urban environments, and consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-00155f0761a7eb3076d826f86fbd6ad2\">The rise of <strong>e-commerce <\/strong>has transformed not only <strong>consumption patterns<\/strong> but also <strong>how cities move.<\/strong> This revolution is <strong>reshaping supply chains<\/strong>, bringing <strong>port operations<\/strong> and <strong>urban Logistics<\/strong> into closer alignment (UNCTAD, 2024). On a daily basis, millions of orders must be transported along these corridors to reach consumers in a <strong>timely, flexible and sustainable manner<\/strong>. Withing this framework, the <strong>last-mile<\/strong>, the final stage between logistics centres and the end customer, has emerged as one of the most significant <strong>operational challenges<\/strong>, as <strong>urban congestion<\/strong> and the pressure <strong>for immediate delivery <\/strong>place considerable strain on traditional road-based transport models (European Commission, 20211; ITF, 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2427c751f7d01e98d9de8a6e606a3e63\">The simultaneous growth of e-commerce and <strong>urban population <\/strong>is concentrating <strong>logistics demand<\/strong> in densely populated areas, where space is limited and mobility is further constrained by <strong>traffic<\/strong> and by essential <strong>emissions-reduction policies<\/strong> aimed at mitigating <strong>climate change<\/strong> (Sales et al., 2024; UN, 2024). More than half of the global population currently resides in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to continue rising, <strong>intensifying pressure on urban transport networks<\/strong> (World Bank, 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ced51cd586587a630219f34d22ca04bf\">Under these conditions, conventional systems based on lorries and delivery vans are facing increasing challenges in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. This is driving operators to explore solutions that integrate <strong>digital innovation, <a href=\"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/ports-energy-transition-green-hubs\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/ports-energy-transition-green-hubs\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">operational efficiency<\/a> and environmental and social responsibility<\/strong> (Dampier et al., 2015; Athanasopoulos et al., 2024; Zhang et al., 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-af95e043c9df88e12e3281db0664a5af\">A promising alternative lies in the strategic utilization of existing <strong>transport infrastructure<\/strong> to move goods efficiently, directly linking the <strong>port-hinterland supply chain<\/strong> <strong>with urban areas<\/strong>. This approach combines <strong>multimodal transport<\/strong> with a <strong>more sustainable and resilient last-mile<\/strong> capable of withstanding disruptions and congestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4121dc9418a2fd5363c49ab6db00a7f4\">The European <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.for-freight.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.for-freight.eu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FOR-FREIGHT project<\/a><\/strong> has explored this concept in depth, investigating the integration of multimodal networks with advanced digital tools to optimise urban logistics. The proposal is both simple but transformative: to utilize underused empty <strong>early-morning metro services<\/strong> for the transportation of parcels from logistics-enabled metro depots <strong>to<\/strong> <strong>strategic stations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ee1d3f183a7fb468dcebb732845427c6\">The proposed model is based on three key principles: the <strong>reuse of existing resources<\/strong> without the need for new vehicles or infrastructure, <strong>the prioritisation of passenger transport <\/strong>and the <strong>avoidance of structural modifications to the metro network<\/strong>. In operational terms, parcels are consolidated in <strong>roller cages<\/strong> at logistics operators\u2019 warehouses and transported by lorries or delivery vans to <strong>metro depots<\/strong>. From there, they travel on empty trains to <strong>stations equipped with smart lockers<\/strong> for collection (FOR-FREIGHT, 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b0028435297fe6be2832e8d53629c0fc\">The main value of the systems resides in the suite of <strong>solvers<\/strong> developed, <strong>digital tools<\/strong> designed to optimise the entire operation. The <strong>demand forecasting solver<\/strong> estimates parcel volumes per station on a daily basis over a seven-day planning horizon, taking into account <strong>purchasing patterns, metro user density and the seasonality of both shopping behaviour and ridership<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-783c042a0e87188f053fefaef683470d\">A <strong>blockchain-based locker reservation platform<\/strong> ensures <strong>availability and coordination between operators and locker managers<\/strong>, while <strong>QR codes and mobile application tracking points <\/strong>enable full <strong>traceability <\/strong>of <strong>each parcel and roller cage<\/strong>, recording the entire journey in real time from the warehouse to the final locker. Finally, <strong>the route optimization solver<\/strong> determines efficient routes in terms of <strong>costs, time and CO<sub>2<\/sub> equivalent emissions<\/strong>, integrating transport from the port to urban logistics centres and the last mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30edd7bfaa21263feb1bc6da8da5f064\">The results derived from the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OZC958_NF0w\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OZC958_NF0w\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong> FOR-FREIGHT<\/strong><\/a> <strong>project\u2019s simulations and pilot tests<\/strong> demonstrate clear and measurable benefits. The use of metro systems for urban freight transport leads to a <strong>significant reduction<\/strong> in <strong>road kilometres travelled,<\/strong> helping to <strong>alleviate congestion<\/strong> and <strong>lower CO<sub>2<\/sub> equivalent emissions<\/strong>. The combination of <strong>demand forecasting<\/strong>, <strong>optimised route planning<\/strong>, a <strong>blockchain-based locker booking platform<\/strong> and <strong>QR-based tracking of parcels and roller cages<\/strong> enhances <strong>operational efficiency,<\/strong> improves <strong>traceability<\/strong> and ensures <strong>real-time coordination<\/strong> between logistics operators and locker managers (FOR-FREIGHT, 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7f482f2388cfaad84285bda1298315c3\">Furthermore, as the model does not require modifications to metro networks or stations, it can be readily replicated in other cities with <strong>established metropolitan systems.<\/strong> It may also be <strong>complemented<\/strong> by <strong>sustainable last-mile solutions<\/strong>, such <strong>as electric cargo bikes <\/strong>or <strong>urban microhubs<\/strong>, which facilitate the consolidation of goods prior to final delivery. These findings indicate that both the <strong>sustainability<\/strong> and <strong>efficiency of logistics systems<\/strong> can be improved without the need for new infrastructure, through the <strong>intelligent utilization of existing resources<\/strong> and the reinforcement of connections between <strong>ports, hinterlands and the urban last mile.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c295505d82dcd4368eebc1c26c6405a4\">In light of the <strong>continued expansion of e-commerce<\/strong> and the <strong>increasing pressure on urban environments<\/strong>, this <strong>multimodal freight approac<\/strong>h, supported by <strong>advanced planning and coordination systems<\/strong>, emerges as a <strong>strategic pillar<\/strong> for the development of <strong>more sustainable, resilient and efficient urban logistics systems<\/strong>, better <strong>aligned with contemporary urban needs<\/strong>. It contributes to the optimisation of <strong>urban flow managemen<\/strong>t and delineates a clear <strong>pathway towards the future of urban logistics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9ac00cf961d1ea846fe5a532228b76c6\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dc39df78cded1e73118da200b840e750\">References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84fe5841bc831db6b302ef18641fdd74\">Enr\u00edquez Manilla, A., Feliu Escag\u00fc\u00e9s, J., Luong, N. Q., Denis, H., &amp; Villa Mart\u00ednez, R. (2025). <em>Last-mile delivery in the e-commerce era: Leveraging urban metro networks in the FOR-FREIGHT Project.<\/em> 16th ITS European Congress, Sevilla (Espa\u00f1a), 19-21 de Mayo de 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The rise of e-commerce is not only transforming consumption patterns, but also reshaping urban mobility and the\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":4804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,127],"tags":[181,182,179,180],"tipo_publicacion":[],"temas":[],"ano_publicacion":[],"class_list":["post-4785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logistics-and-supply-chain","category-papers","tag-last-mile","tag-logistics-infraestructure","tag-sustainability","tag-urban-logistics"],"primary_category_id":73,"coauthors_data":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4785"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4807,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4785\/revisions\/4807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4785"},{"taxonomy":"tipo_publicacion","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tipo_publicacion?post=4785"},{"taxonomy":"temas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/temas?post=4785"},{"taxonomy":"ano_publicacion","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharos390.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ano_publicacion?post=4785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}