Transportterminals

Transport terminals are facilities designed to handle the transfer of people, goods, and vehicles between different modes of transport and between modes and the supply chain. They coordinate the arrival, transfer, and departure processes, providing space for processing, storage, and interchanges.

There are several types of transport terminals. Passenger terminals handle scheduled and unscheduled passenger flows and typically include concourses, ticketing, security, waiting areas, and boarding facilities, often located at airports, railway stations, bus stations, or cruise ship docks. Cargo or freight terminals specialize in handling goods, with docks, warehouses, yards, handling equipment, and loading/unloading interfaces for ships, trains, trucks, or air cargo. Intermodal or multi-modal terminals are designed to move freight efficiently between two or more modes, such as rail-to-road or ship-to-rail, often featuring adjacent yards and standardized handling equipment.

Functions and operations: They serve as transfer points, enabling sorting, consolidation, storage, and timely dispatch. They require scheduling, capacity management, customs and regulatory compliance, security screening, and information systems for tracking and control. Facility design emphasizes access roads, routing, maneuvering space for heavy vehicles, safety zones, and contingency procedures.

Performance and trends: Efficiency relies on automation, such as automated stacking cranes, container handling equipment, gate systems, and integrated IT platforms. Sustainability considerations include energy use, emissions, and noise. Examples include seaports with container terminals, airports with cargo terminals, and inland intermodal yards connected to rail networks.