Introduction – Benefits of Choosing Rail Freight
Deciding which type of transport to choose for the goods that you need delivered to a remote place can sometimes be a mind-boggling affair. Depending on the distance that the goods need to cover, there are a few options that you can use. If you are shipping to another continent, then your options are rather limited, with the choice lying between ocean or air transport. However, if it is the same continent that you are interested in, then things become a little more interesting. In this article, I will explain the benefits of going for the rail freight.
Cost-Effectiveness
This is one of the key benefits of choosing the rail transport. The fact that trains use much less fuel than any other kinds of transportation means that the cost of transporting goods using this method will come out cheaper than anything else. This, however, depends on whether you are getting a whole train construction to transport one thing or just putting it on an already running train. If you put it on a train that is already running, you will be able to save more money than transporting it over the same distance using some other form of transport.
Also, another thing that contributes to the price of transporting is the fact that trains have much more space and are able to carry larger volumes of cargo. Since space is less limited, the price is less, because it is not so exclusive and one train can carry a lot more than a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).
In the end, further savings can be achieved by jointly chartering a train along with some other company that needs something hauled along the same route. Joint chartering is one of the main ways in which companies freight their cargo.
Reliability
The days of large railroad accidents are long past and railroad safety and security has really improved in the last few decades. Since then, the rail freight has become one of the safest possible solutions for transporting goods. Also, with the improvements in accuracy and punctuality, it has become really reliable, and the only more punctual mode of transport is air freight. Because it is running on railways, there is nothing that can obstruct the path of a train on its way, meaning that there will be no delays due to outside factors. So, if you require your goods to be delivered punctually, this is what you should choose.
Speed
Unless you are shipping things to Serbia or Romania, where the railways are extremely slow, chances are that using rail freight to deliver your goods will deliver them more quickly than any other mode of transport would (except, again, air transport). The average speed of train freight goes around 75mph, which, if you compare it to the 58mph HGV, means that it will certainly get there faster. Also, using railways means, once again, that there are less obstructions (like traffic lights, other cars, etc.), which will benefit the speed of delivery, as the goods will be in constant motion until they reach their destination.
Environmental Impact
It is known that a typical transport train replaces around 50 HGVs from the road, due to its sheer size. It is estimated that over the last six years, in the UK alone, train freight has removed around 31.5 million of HGVs from the road. Since there are almost no carbon emissions from trains, this has saved around two million tons of polluting materials from entering the atmosphere. Since with electric traction engines there is, literally, no pollution, and it is estimated that one ton of cargo transported by train freight pollutes the environment 80% less than if it were transported by road. So, if you have the option of going for the rail transport, do it because you will greatly contribute towards the fight for the preservation of our environment.
Conclusion
Choosing between various transporting options can leave you wondering about which one might be the best. The best advice there would be is to choose according to the situation, because not every type of freight is suitable for every situation and every cargo. Be sure to do your research well before making a decision and, hopefully, I have helped you even a little bit with this article towards making such decision.
About the Author
John Collings is a full time employee with International Freight Forwarding Company who specialize in international Airfreight/Sea freight, Customs Clearance & Special Transport Projects Allworld Logistics as a export manager.