Scribd
Upload
1K views

The Function of Transport Terminals

Transport terminals serve important connectivity, interface, and buffer functions within transportation systems. They are locations where passengers and freight are assembled or dispersed, and can involve interchange between the same or different modes of transport. Terminals require specific facilities and equipment and represent substantial infrastructure investments. They are essential links in transportation chains, providing accessibility and economic benefits to their regions. Common types of terminals include ports that interface between maritime and land transport, and airports and train stations that provide passenger connectivity.

Uploaded by

Riot Ayase
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views

The Function of Transport Terminals

Transport terminals serve important connectivity, interface, and buffer functions within transportation systems. They are locations where passengers and freight are assembled or dispersed, and can involve interchange between the same or different modes of transport. Terminals require specific facilities and equipment and represent substantial infrastructure investments. They are essential links in transportation chains, providing accessibility and economic benefits to their regions. Common types of terminals include ports that interface between maritime and land transport, and airports and train stations that provide passenger connectivity.

Uploaded by

Riot Ayase
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

The Function of Transport Terminals

A: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue and Dr. Brian Slack

The Nature of Transport Terminal

A terminal may be defined as any facility where passengers and


freight are assembled or dispersed. Both cannot travel
individually, but in batches. Terminals may also be points of
interchange involving the same mode of transport. Terminals may
also be points of interchange between different modes of
transportation.

Terminal. Any location where freight and passengers either


originates, terminates, or is handled in the transportation process.
Terminals are central and intermediate locations in the
movements of passengers and freight. They often require specific
facilities and equipment to accommodate the traffic they handle.
One of the main attributes of transport terminals, international
and regional alike, is their convergence function. They are indeed
obligatory points of passage having invested on their geographical
location which is generally intermediate to commercial flows.

Passenger Terminal

services such as information, shelter, food and security are


required, but the layouts and activities taking place in passenger
terminals tend to be simple
As a result, bus terminals and railway stations tend to be made up
of simple components, from ticket offices and waiting areas to
limited amounts of retailing.
Terminal Cost
Because they jointly perform transfer and consolidation
functions, terminals are important economically because of the
costs incurred in carrying out these activities. The traffic they
handle is a source of employment and benefit regional economic
activities, notably by providing accessibility to suppliers and
customers.

Chapter 4 - Transportation Terminal

Terminals are, therefore, essential links in transportation chains


with many representing substantial infrastructure and capital
investments.

Centrality. Focus on the terminal as a point of origin and


destination of traffic. Thus, centrality is linked with the generation
and attraction of movements, which are related to the nature and
the level of economic activities within the vicinity of the
concerned terminal. The function of centrality also involves a
significant amount of intermodal activities.

Intermediacy. Focus on the terminal as an intermediate point in


the flows of passengers or freight. This term is applied to the
frequent occurrence of places gaining advantage because they are
between other places. The ability to exploit transshipment has
been an important feature of many terminals.

The Functions of Transport Terminals


A transport terminal is composed of a set of intermodal
infrastructures taking advantage of a geographical location,
conferring a higher level of accessibility to local, regional and
global markets. Depending on the mode being considered,
terminals are bound to various degrees to the site. For instance,
maritime transportation terminals are particularly dependent on
local conditions, especially for large port activities which can be
accommodated in a limited number of locations. Airport terminals
are more flexible in their locations, but still bound to specific
locational constrains. Terminals fulfill three general functions
within transport systems:
Connectivity. Transport terminals provide connectivity within a
transport network as they are the only locations where a
network can be entered or exited. For instance, subway
stations are the connecting nodes of a transit network while
ports and airports are the connecting nodes of maritime and
air networks.
Interface. Transport terminals provide an interface between
transport modes enabling passengers and cargo to transit. A
port or an airport are points of interface between maritime
or air and land transport systems.
Buffer. Transport terminals provide a buffer between the different
capacity and frequency of the transport modes they connect, such
as a port does for the maritime and land transportation systems. A
containership may call a port once every two days while trucks
carrying containers may come in and out of the terminal every few
minutes. A similar analogy applies to airports that act as buffers
between the various levels of service of land transport systems
and the scheduling of air services.

You might also like