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Rail freight is a good choice when shipping large volumes of cargo over long distances, both domestically and across borders. With low fuel costs, it is a cost-effective alternative to other modes of transportation. Let's consider whether the this transport may be beneficial for your business.
What is rail transport?
Train transport is a land transport that involves wheeled vehicles to ferry passengers and goods across a network of rails. In the first railway, the wooden rails were used although all railways today consist of two parallel steel rails. A train consists of a chain of wagons or cars pulled by steam / diesel / electric locomotives.
It boasts a long history dating many years back. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway which was opened in England in 1830 marked the first public railway ever built using steam locomotion. Over the time, many improvements have been made on rail technology including electric locomotive, cast iron and metal rails, and standardization of operating rules. Today, there are global rail networks linking major cities across continents that play incredible roles in trade, travel and economic growth.
Types of rail transport
The effective and dependable movement of commodities is vital to the world of commerce. With three different but complimentary methods — conventional rail forwarding, container rail forwarding, and rail LCL transport — rail forwarding emerges as a key participant.
Conventional rail forwarding
Freight movement on a dedicated rail network is the focus of conventional rail forwarding. Large amounts of loose goods, such as coal, grain, or ore, are transported by bulk freight trains in specially designed wagons. When shipping in big quantities, a full carload maximizes efficiency by utilizing the entire freight car for a single shipment. Less than container load shipments that don't fill an entire car can be combined into a single freight train along the same route.
Conventional rail forwarding, in contrast to passenger trains, moves products efficiently by using specific freight lines within the larger rail network. Because conventional rail forwarding produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than road transportation, it is a more economical and ecologically responsible choice for long-distance freight transit.
Container rail forwarding
Container rail forwarding primarily utilizes one type of rail transport: intermodal transport. This method leverages the vast rail network of freight trains to move standardized freight cars containing containerized cargo. These containers can then be seamlessly transferred to road transport trucks for final delivery, maximizing efficiency across the entire supply chain.
An enormous rail network that spans the country or even continents is made up of rails that enable the long-distance, high-capacity transit of commodities. By combining the flexibility of trucks for the final delivery with the long-haul cost-effectiveness of rail, intermodal transportation lowers total expenses. Due to their consistent size, containers make it simple to move goods between freight trains, ships, and road transport vehicles without having to repack them.
Although there are other rail transportation options, such as funicular railways and high-speed rail; they are not commonly utilized for containerized freight forwarding because of their specific uses.
Rail LCL transport
Rail transport has changed significantly since the days of the early railways. It used to rely on human or animal power or primitive steam locomotive running along wooden rails. The Stockton and Darlington Railway, built in 1825, is a landmark example, using steam power to revolutionize freight transport.
LCL transport, which handles smaller shipments that don't fill an entire freight train, is one of the important categories. This will enable more effective transportation of a wide range of goods. Electric trains, which run on electric power, are more efficient and clean than steam locomotives in use today for rail freight. One of the best examples of large freight movement by rail that connects nations on the continent is the European railway network.
While high-speed trains with speeds exceeding 300 km/h impresses the public, it offers a more cost-effective solution for bulk goods. Their capacity allows them to carry massive quantities of cargo over long distances, making them a vital part of global freight transportation.
Rail transport - Advantages and Disadvantages
When choosing the rail transport, it's crucial to take into account both sides of such transportation.
The greatest advantage of the railway transport is that it is the most dependable mode of transport as it is the least affected by weather conditions such as rains, fog, etc. compared to other modes of transport. It is also able to transport enormous amounts of cargo across extended distances. That's why they are perfect for moving large loads and minimize the need for extra cars on the road. As a rule, rail travel is typically more energy-efficient, because it allows to lower fuel expenses and a smaller environmental effect result from this. Moreover, rail travel is one of the safest modes of transportation according to statistics, with a considerably lower accident rate than driving.
On the other hand, trains can only follow existing tracks in comparison with other transport. This may be a reason for more difficult access for them to go to some places, particularly in isolated regions. If try to solve this problem, building and maintaining train infrastructure may be expensive. This pays for the cost of installing the tracks, which were made of thick, l-shaped metal plates or cast iron plates in older systems.
Rail transport cannot provide door to door service as it is tied to a particular track. Intermediate loading or unloading involves greater cost, more wear and tear and wastage of time. The time and cost of terminal operations are a great disadvantage of rail transport. Finally, railway transport is unsuitable and uneconomical for short distance and small traffic of goods.
China-Europe rail transportation. What do you need to know?
The System is officially called the China-Europe Railway Express (CRE), it's a vast network of rail lines connecting China and Europe. This growing network offers an alternative to traditional sea freight.
Speed is a major advantage. While not quite as fast as air freight, rail is significantly faster than shipping by sea. It's also considered a reliable option, less susceptible to delays than sea travel can be. This can be especially important in today's ever-changing global logistics landscape.
While faster than sea freight, travel times are still longer than air transport. Additionally, the reach of the network, though extensive, may not extend to every specific origin and destination. If your needs are time-sensitive or require a very specific route, you may need to explore other options.