ABSTRACT
All spatial À ows, with the exception of personal vehicular and pedestrian trips, involve movements between terminals. Transport modes require assembly and distribution of their traf¿ c, both passenger and freight. For example, passengers have to go to bus terminals and airports ¿ rst in order to reach their ¿ nal destinations, and freight has to be consolidated at a port or a rail yard before onward shipment. Terminals are, therefore, essential links in transportation chains with many representing substantial infrastructure and capital investments. The goal of this chapter is to examine the spatial and functional characteristics of transport terminals. They occupy speci¿ c locations and they exert a strong inÀ uence over their surroundings. At the same time they perform speci¿ c economic functions and serve as clusters of specialized activities.
