The Function Of Transport Terminals 1x2a4p

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 engers 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 engers either originates, terminates, or is handled in the transportation process. Terminals are central and intermediate locations in the movements of engers 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 age having invested on their geographical location which is generally intermediate to commercial flows. enger Terminal services such as information, shelter, food and security are required, but the layouts and activities taking place in enger 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 tly 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 engers 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 engers 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.