Obtaining the optimal origin-destination multimodal freight transportation network for the City of Bogotá

Bogotá’s logistics performance as the principal hub for shipping cargo to other destinations in Colombia has not been optimal. Excessive truck traffic, low density of railways in service, and no accessible river routes seem to be major determinant factors. This article proposes a balanced linear transshipment (BLT) model to estimate the optimal origin-destination (O–D) multimodal freight transportation network for the mentioned city to seven main destinations in the country. This research also provides an appropriate framework for assessing several hypothetical transportation scenarios. Thus, based on national transport statistics, this study evaluates three main criteria: freight transportation cost, number of nodes, and number of routes. The results of analysis suggest that if alternative modes of transportation are implemented in Bogotá, the three mentioned criteria will improve substantially. The analysis is limited by the size of the O–D transportation network considered, the assumptions associated with the research methodology, and the scope and diversity of data sources used as reference. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine the optimal O–D transportation network in Bogotá by using a BLT model.