TERMINALS & INFRASTRUCTURE

Individual solutions for combined transport

When it comes to intermodal terminals, we place great emphasis on customized planning. Unlike seaports, where standard layouts are common, our terminal design is determined by the specific requirements of the site—from its layout to its connections and legal requirements. We therefore understand that standard manuals can only partially replace the precision of individually tailored advice.

For example, a terminal in Uzbekistan requires a completely different construction method than a location in Africa. Extreme temperatures ranging from -35 to +45 degrees Celsius require technical adaptations that often require neither locally available technologies nor skilled personnel. Our planning is based on the actual local conditions – not highly specialized solutions that may be difficult to implement.

Focus on efficiency and operating costs

All our terminals are individually designed and engineered to ensure not only the right capital expenditures (CAPEX), but, more importantly, the long-term optimization of operating costs (OPEX). Our experience shows that OPEX costs are the decisive factor for the success of a terminal.

To ensure a precise design, we begin with workshops in which we define the planned volume flows and operational requirements together with our customers. We analyze information such as slot and peak times, dwell times at the gates, the composition of the cargo units (containers, trailers, swap bodies), their distance from the train stabling facility, and interim storage times. Aspects such as empty containers, hazardous goods, and waste flows are also part of the design and optimization process.

Thanks to our market experience, we can determine the investment ceiling based on the market price for handling a cargo unit using a top-down approach, thus optimally planning the construction costs for an economically viable terminal right from the start.