Güterbahnhöfen

Güterbahnhöfe, or freight yards, are railway facilities dedicated to the handling and staging of goods traffic. They are typically located near industrial areas, ports, or busy passenger stations and operate largely outside passenger services. Their main function is to receive freight from incoming trains, marshal or break down wagons, and forward goods to their next leg, by rail or road.

Facilities at a Güterbahnhof include multiple tracks and sidings, loading ramps, cranes or forklifts, and often warehouses and freight halls. Depending on their purpose, yards may specialize in bulk commodities such as coal, ore, or grain, or handle general cargo and containerized freight. The infrastructure supports loading and unloading, storage, wagon repair or modification, and transfer between rail and road.

Operations involve interaction with mainline services for through traffic and shunting duties. While some Güterbahnhöfe serve as local hubs for regional freight, others function as intermediate nodes within intermodal networks, particularly when connected to container terminals or Güterverkehrszentren (GVZs). The term can cover both small local yards and larger regional facilities adjacent to passenger stations or industrial zones.

Historically, Güterbahnhöfe expanded with railway development in the 19th and early 20th centuries. From the late 20th century onward, many traditional yards were reduced in size or closed due to competition from road transport and changes in logistics. Some have been repurposed or integrated into modern intermodal centers, while others continue to operate as specialized freight hubs focused on efficient handling of containers, pallets, and bulk goods.