Terminals as part of the Swedish Transport System - an overview

Report, 2003

This report maps freight terminals in Sweden with emphasise on terminals with rail connection in terms of operational conditions, ownership, responsibilities and forms of disposal and accessibility. The study has been conducted by using internet, questionnaires and direct contacts to involved companies, operators and authorities. Inland intermodal terminals have been classified as freeloading sites, wagon-load terminals, light-combi terminals and conventional intermodal terminals. When several intermodal and unimodal terminals as well as supporting services are gathered within a limited area this is designated intermodal freight centres. Ports that have rail connection and handle unitised goods are treated; there are 28 ports of this kind. Operators active in Swedish intermodal transport are described, i.e. Green Cargo, Rail Combi/Cargo Net A/S, Intercontainer (Scandinavia) AB, BK Tåg och IKEA Rail. Conclusively, a discussion about the role of terminals in the Swedish transport systems and some comments on what type of barriers are raised by an inefficient terminal structure and whether the public or private sector is best suited to operate terminals. In addition, an analysis of current logistics trends and their implications for intermodal transport is presented.