When it comes to Combined Transport terminals, space is not always the limiting factor. Equipment can make the difference between a bottleneck and a high-performance hub. A crucial factor, especially since terminals are shouldering the pressure of steadily increasing freight flows.

Together Samira Ghaneian and Ralf Elbert took a closer look at how different types of handling equipment are used in inland intermodal terminals across Europe. Building on their earlier analysis of terminal layouts, they expanded their study to include the equipment itself. What they found is that there is a lot of variety in equipment strategies: some terminals rely on gantry cranes to move large volumes efficiently, while others use reach stackers or straddle carriers for more flexibility. At LogForum 2025 at Yessenov University in Aktau, they shared insights highlighting how these findings can contribute to a better understanding of a standardized inland terminal design, supporting planning, benchmarking, and capacity assessment in combined transport networks. There’s still a lot more to explore in this field, and we’re only at the beginning.