The European Union (EU) has begun a major infrastructure programme for Trans-European Networks (TENs), which are intended to interconnect and harmonise different national transport systems. One key objective of the TENs is to develop an integrated multimodal network, covering all main modes but emphasising less environmentally harmful modes. As one of the first elements of the TENs programme, the EU has pursued a policy in favour of road-rail and water-borne combined transport (CT), aiming mainly to develop cross-border CT as an alternative to long-distance road haulage on very congested transport corridors. Intermodal logistics centres are being developed by regional and local authorities and by private local authorities and by private developers. They are intended to contribute to additional combined transport, promote regional economic activity, and improve land use and local distribution, for example in cities. This paper presents some case studies of intermodal terminals and logistics centres in the EU: (1) Italy's Interport Network of nine intermodal logistics centres; (2) GVZ (goods exchange centre) and city logistics projects in Germany; (3) logistics centres in conurbations in France; (4) port-hinterland terminals in the Netherlands; and (5) Channel Tunnel Euroterminals and freight villages in the UK.
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