Rail freight transport

Rail freight transport is the use of <a href="/facts/Railway/9nJQbsDV">railways</a> and <a href="/facts/Train/0mkFQDg9">trains</a> to transport <a href="/facts/Cargo/0aDk22Yl">cargo</a> as opposed to human <a href="/facts/Passenger/ToMPuxdY">passengers</a>.
A <a href="/facts/Freight_train/uejxQ9yb">freight train</a>, cargo train, or goods train is a group of <a href="/facts/Freight_car/4XBU36LV">freight cars</a> (US) or <a href="/facts/Goods_wagon/oxjBJWdX">goods wagons</a> (<a href="/facts/International_Union_of_Railways/oSlgdIJk">International Union of Railways</a>) hauled by one or more <a href="/facts/Locomotive/C9YV7wrQ">locomotives</a> on a railway, transporting cargo all or some of the way between the shipper and the intended destination as part of the <a href="/facts/Logistics/0Hr2w55W">logistics</a> chain. Trains may haul <a href="/facts/Bulk_material_handling/WaHLlHt8">bulk material</a>, <a href="/facts/Intermodal_container/797lTKzR">intermodal containers</a>, general freight or specialized freight in purpose-designed cars. Rail freight practices and economics vary by country and region.
When considered in terms of ton-miles or tonne-kilometers hauled, <a href="/facts/Energy_efficiency_in_transport/XDpnWg7y">energy efficiency can be greater</a> with rail transportation than with other means. Maximum economies are typically realized with bulk commodities (e.g., <a href="/facts/Coal/83kV3qxg">coal</a>), especially when hauled over long distances. Moving goods by rail often involves <a href="/facts/Transshipment/XFsvJSsl">transshipment</a> costs, particularly when the shipper or receiver lack direct rail access. These costs may exceed that of operating the train itself, a factor that practices such as <a href="/facts/Containerization/fxuCbDc3">containerization</a>, <a href="/facts/Trailer-on-flatcar/lApXjnPy">trailer-on-flatcar</a> or <a href="/facts/Rolling_highway/QxC4jS2r">rolling highway</a> aim to minimize.

Rail freight transport open-in-new

Rail freight transport