The industrial revolution was made possible by trains. If one must transport goods over long distances, few modes of transport can be as successful as railroads. This advantage is why the logistics chain has always involved trains. The use of railways and trains to carry goods on land is also known as rail freight transport. One can use it to transport all or any of the different goods, between the shipper and the intended destination.
Rail freight transport is critical in today’s dynamic economic world. Operators are looking to increase their network’s capacity and efficiency through improvements in new technologies and infrastructure. In recent years, the demand for new and upgraded rail lines has been increasing rapidly. Road freight is much quicker than cargo from the ocean. It is cheaper than shipping air freight and less expensive than sea freight. Moving goods by train is suitable when goods need to reach their destination as quickly as possible, these goods include any promotional, computer equipment, automobiles, etc.
If we also consider energy use, rail freight can be one of the most efficient transportation forms. On the railways, there are fewer accidents than on the roads as well.
Types of Cargo Delivered by Rail Freight
Many companies employ rail freight transport to transport cargo, including bulk cargo and consumer goods such as household cleaning items, batteries, and paint.
Hazardous products, special cargo, and consumer goods are the major cargo shipped by rail freight transport. Special freight contains steel pallets, automobiles, overweight cargo, and goods that require the periodic regulation of temperature within the container.
Market goods include insect repellents, hand sanitisers, fruits and vegetables, nuts, products from the textile industry, etc. Most consumer goods are delivered in containers, although this depends on the kind of shipment.
The freight wagon transports these containers. Its design is perfect for transporting the cargo or the shipment effectively without any damage. Covered hopper, autorack, boxcar, flatcar being a few examples of the many different types.
Apart from being a shipment mode where almost anything and everything one can send and receive, rail freight transportation offers more reasons for customers to utilise their services listed below!
Reliability
Rail freight carriers achieve 97 per cent reliability on the premium services they provide for retailers, and rail freight will typically equal or boost road freight reliability. With heavier payloads, freight trains continue to reach higher speeds as operators invest in improved locomotives and wagons.
Delivering Essentials
It plays a significant role in the freight supply chain, whether bulky items shipped to major hardware chains, white goods to department stores, or food to local supermarkets, to ensure the healthy, secure and effective distribution of daily necessities help families. Retailers are increasingly adopting rail freight as an inexpensive, safe, and environmentally friendly transport choice that can contribute to their logistics operations.
Environmental Gains
Compared to road freight, rail freight reduces CO2 pollution by up to 76 per cent. This feature helps offset the global warming consequences of transport pollution. For large volumes of cargo, rail is the best-performing land transport mode and is more fuel-efficient and emits less carbon than heavy vehicles. Road freight produces nine times more CO2 emissions than rail freight.