There are two distinctive subsystems for intermodal terminals in Australia: a port-based system that predominantly handles international imports/exports and the system that is concerned with the interstate and intrastate movements of non-bulk freight. There is no definitive rule to entirely differentiate these systems. In some states such as Queensland and
Victoria, the intrastate terminal system was constructed to integrate the regional gauge passing the inner hinterland with the interstate network. A number of terminals, Yennora in Sydney for example, play a critical role in both interstate and intrastate systems. To a significant extent these systems increasingly operate independently of each other (Meyrick & Associates,2006). However, the domestic subsystem has failed to fully integrate the intermodal chains in Australia due to a number of major productivity and integration obstacles (presented in Table 1). The efficiency of transfer between different modes in the terminals can have a significant effect on transport costs and service times (Kozan, 2006). There are various factors that influence the efficiency of the terminals within the intermodal chains such as ease of connectivity to the transport network or knowing as the location, terminal design, operational practices and the system involved with coordinating different players.