Intermodality of Network Points: The planners view

Abstract

Intermodal nodal points concerning the passenger services and goods transport connect not only physical infrastructures but also transport services of different modes of transport. With it, they facilitate multimodal transport chains with an ecologically and economically optimal use of different means of transport. Planning, construction and running of such intermodal nodal points are complex tasks whereas their solution is often linked with additional expenditures concerning the transport suppliers and demanders. In a liberalised transport market, there is the danger that the individual participants abandon the running of multimodal transports and the construction of intermodal nodal points due to cost reasons. However, if they are to be more spread out with reference to the overall objectives (e.g. sustainability), the responsibility for a multimodal transport system as a whole with sufficient and suitably equipped intermodal nodal points must be looked after and be unquestionably promoted by the public transport and spatial planning of the public communities.