Evolutionary-Functional Approach to Transport Hubs Classification

The purpose of the article is to characterize an evolutionary-functional approach to the classification of transport hubs. This approach is a part of the theory of terminalistics, which is proposed to be included in the practice of transport science. We have developed a pyramid of terminalistics and a hierarchy of its objects, taking into account the complexity and integration of the service. We propose to use the four-stage adapted Rodrigue-Notteboom model when analyzing the operation of railway transport hubs. In modern conditions, transport hubs have long performed the role of full-fledged multifunctional logistics entities that implement a wide range of not only transport, storage, but also consulting, customs, distribution, expeditionary and other services. However, so far transport science has not offered a full-fledged transport hubs' classification reflecting the entire rich functional potential of these complex logistic systems. The evolutionary-functional approach to the development of transport hubs as multi-modal logistics entities is the basic theoretical position of terminalistics. This approach reflects a whole range of parameters that are important for transport hubs analyses: infrastructure base, geography, service orientation, features of regional development and development of logistics solutions. The authors presented transport hubs' classification according to the stage of their evolutionary-functional development. The basis of the classification is a sign of the perfection of logistic solutions when interacting with the parties of logistics.