Written by Tung Nguyen Viet Do (Jason)

On Tuesday evening, May 28th, the North American and European Markets class welcomed a guest lecture from Professor Timo Eccarius of NSYSU. The session, titled "The Global Transportation Problem…and its Western Roots," offered a comprehensive exploration of the historical and contemporary issues in global mobility and transportation.

Professor Timo began by introducing his extensive career and educational background. He then delved into the history of global mobility, sharing intriguing historical facts and discussing the significant impact of transportation on CO2 emissions. His focus was particularly on emissions from the economic and transport sectors, with a spotlight on the road transport sector's substantial contribution.

Throughout his lecture, Professor Timo utilized historical pictures to illustrate the chaotic nature of past transportation systems. He emphasized "jaywalking" as a notable traffic problem and discussed the high density of transportation infrastructure in the United States. He explained the success of motorized mobility and its implications for city space allocation, using Berlin, Germany, as a case study.

The lecture also covered the cost of various travel modes, with a particular emphasis on the railway industry. Professor Timo guided the students through a series of images and illustrations that fostered introspection on global transportation methods. He presented a directional map of DB Cargo in Europe and explained the operational function of classification yards (also known as shunting or marshalling yards). To provide a practical understanding, he played a video showcasing the real-time actions of conductors and railway officers.

Reflecting on his experience with a German railway company, Professor Timo discussed track gauge issues with visual aids depicting the Trans Eurasian Railway. He revisited the topic of carbon emissions, comparing different modes of transportation in Europe. He introduced the concept of "decarbonization," drawing from his past employment to highlight green initiatives in rail transport.

In the session's conclusion, Dr. Timo focused on Taiwan, calculating the carbon footprint for freight transportation and comparing various modes of transport. This comprehensive analysis provided valuable insights into the environmental impact of different transportation methods.

Overall, Professor Timo's lecture offered an in-depth look at the global transportation problem, its historical roots, and contemporary solutions, leaving the students with much to ponder about the future of transportation and its environmental implications.