When it comes to cost-effectiveness, rail transport is often the go-to choice for large volumes traveling long distances. This is because it has a lower cost per tonne-mile than transportation by truck. But which mode of transport is most efficient for transporting freight and what are the advantages and disadvantages of transport by train versus transport by truck? To answer these questions, let's take a look at our new infographic. Freight trains can reach up to 2300 feet long (approximately 700 meters) and, when fully loaded, can weigh more than 3.5 million pounds (about 1600 metric tons). With just one gallon of diesel fuel, a freight train can carry one ton of freight for 470 miles.
This makes it an ideal choice for moving large numbers of containers and cargo over long distances through a rail network. Intermodal transport is often necessary to bring the product to its final destination. This includes train to truck or train to ship transfers from large ships to smaller ships that navigate inland waterways and smaller ocean coastal ports. For example, the ports of New Orleans and Halifax offer container transfers from large ships to smaller ships that sail to several ports on the east coast of the United States and, seasonally, to ports located along the St. Lawrence Seaway. When considering total cost, speed, capacity, reach and environmental impact, shipping freight by rail is usually the best option.
This is especially true for large ships arriving to eastern Nova Scotia from Asia. These ships can be interconnected with barges that navigate the inland waterway system of the United States, as well as with ships that connect to ports located around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Overall, rail transport is an efficient and cost-effective way to move large volumes of cargo over long distances. It offers a number of advantages over truck transport, including lower cost per tonne-mile, greater capacity and reach, and less environmental impact. Rail transport is an ideal choice for businesses looking to move large volumes of cargo over long distances in an efficient and cost-effective manner. It has a lower cost per tonne-mile than transportation by truck, greater capacity and reach, and less environmental impact.
Additionally, intermodal transport allows for easy transfer from large ships to smaller ships that navigate inland waterways and smaller ocean coastal ports. When it comes to shipping freight, rail transport is often the best option. It offers businesses a number of advantages over truck transport that make it an ideal choice for moving large volumes of cargo over long distances.
