The dry port concept - The case of Falköping terminal

Paper in proceeding, 2009

Ever growing containerized transport derives a demand for efficiency and capacity in the transit through the seaports and further transport to the seaports hinterland. To stimulate the development of those seamless intermodal transport chains the concept of dry ports is established. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to describe the concept and to analyze the same through the case of Falköping terminal which is striving to be developed into a dry port for the port of Göteborg. The literature review allows analyzing the concept and giving an overview of the same. However, the data for the analysis is obtained through the review of internal and external documents as well as through the interviews with relevant actors of the transport system. The conclusions indicates the benefits from the dry port derive from the modal shift from road to rail; furthermore, implementation of a dry port in the seaport’s hinterland enables the seaport to increase its terminal capacity and hence manage the problem of congestion at the gates. The development of the terminal into the dry port would also promote regional economic activity and improve local goods distribution.