The results from the model can be used by policy makers when aiming to improve the competitiveness of intermodal transport. The structure of the paper is as follows. In Section 2, we review recent research on intermodal freight transport. Then, in Section 3, we develop a model on the relationship between transport distance and generalized costs which are related to intermodal transport chains in Section 4. The relevance of the model is illustrated in Section 5, using empirical data related to intermodal transport of fresh fish from Norway to central Europe. Finally, conclusions and implications are presented in Section 6.