2. Links in the intermodal transport chain

2.1 Terminal service

This link, which constitutes the first and/or last link in the intermodal transport chain, is usually allocated to the road mode and needs to be optimized (figure 10 ).

There are a few exceptions to this principle, when the consignee or shipper has a rail siding, and receives or dispatches UTIs (sea containers or swap bodies) on railcars, either along equipped platforms, or in areas where forklifts are used to lift the goods into the UTI, or in areas where UTIs are placed on land. In this case, the terminal service is by rail between the main freight station and the siding. Coordination between GPF (main freight station) arrivals/departures, rail terminal...