Development of the Silesian Logistic Centres in Terms of Handling Improvement in Intermodal Transport on the East-West Routes

Abstract

The chapter presents the characteristics of Silesian logistics centres as the most important elements of logistics point infrastructure in the south of Poland, serving connections and integrating various branches of transport in East-West relations. The analysis was carried out on the example of the centre in Gliwice—located in the inland port in the west of the Silesian Province and the centre in Sławków—the point in Europe with the easternmost broad-gauge (1520 mm) railway line. These centres support the second largest in terms of population and the first in terms of industrialization region in Poland—the province of Silesia. The authors focused on presenting the development that has taken place over the last few years in both centres. The expansion and new equipment made it possible to significantly increase the throughput and capacity of handling and storage. The parameters of handling machines for container reloading have been characterized and compared, which in recent years have been installed in two container terminals. In addition, the warehouse space and its equipment, handling capacity, advantages and disadvantages of the applied solutions and development plans were presented. A separate theme is the characterization of the location of both logistic centres and accompanying facilities in the Polish transport system and on the east-west line. As well as the characteristics of the location giving opportunities for the development and increase of intermodality of transhipments and implementation of international and intercontinental transports. As part of this, the comparison of reloading machines and trends in their application and construction are presented. The chapter is concluded with a summary and conclusions regarding the planned increase in cargo transport about the new Silk Road.