What are the advantages of rail freight transport?
In recent years, rail freight transport has experienced strong growth in several countries. In addition to offering optimal safety and a low impact on the environment, rail transport has significant economic potential. This mode of transport has many advantages. We take stock in this article.
1. Rail freight transport is fast
The first advantage of therail freight transport is the speed it offers. It is estimated that rail transport is up to twice as fast asmaritime transport. This is the preferred mode of transport for afast shipping of large quantity of goods.
On the rails, congestion does not exist. Trains do not get stuck in traffic jams unlike road freight. This explains thespeed of rail freight transport. Unlike the road, which quickly becomes congested during rush hour, the train runs its route without stopping. Although delays do exist, freight transport by rail is much more reliable in terms of time.
2. Rail freight transport is secure
The second advantage of rail freight transport is its safety. Indeed, therail transportis considered the safest mode of transport. This therefore results in a reduction in the number of accidents, and the financial losses that can result from them.
Rail transport records 5 times fewer accidents per tonne transported than road vehicles. Derailments or collisions with an obstacle are isolated events. The transport of goods by train therefore has an optimal level of safety. In addition, thefts of containers shipped byrail freightare infrequent. It is indeed more difficult to approach a train or to try to unload a container.
3. Rail freight transport is economical
On the other hand, rail freight transport can allow you to make significant savings. This is possible thanks to thetransport groupage. Transporting the goods of several companies in the vehicle of a single carrier limits the transport costs since they are shared between all the beneficiaries of the freight. Indeed, it is estimated that pooling allows you toreduce your freight transportation costsfrom 5 to 30%. We therefore advise you to share your rail transport costs with companies in your sector. The advantages of this type of collaboration are numerous:
- Reduction of transport costs
- Optimization of train filling rate
- Shipping small quantities of goods at a lower cost
- Increased delivery frequency
4. Rail freight transport is environmentally friendly
It should also be noted that therail freight transportis environmentally friendly. In fact, it is one of the means of transport that produces the least CO2 emissions. It is a sustainable transport solution in the face of climate change. Therail transportuses less space than the road thanks to its high carrying capacity. It therefore has less impact on the environment, which is favorable for the preservation of biodiversity and the development of agricultural activities.
According to Ademe, the transport sector is responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions.transport by trainemits 14 times less CO2 per kilometre on average than a heavy goods vehicle for the same quantity of goods transported. The train is therefore particularly effective in reducing the carbon footprint of many companies.
On the other hand, rail freight transport is also a lever for emitting fewer fine particles and nitrogen oxides. These irritating gases cause breathing difficulties in the most sensitive. Therail freightturns out to be a much less polluting means of transport than other modes since it only represents 2.5% of particle emissions linked to transport.
Finally, rail freight transport ensures high energy efficiency. It is estimated that rail uses energy 3 times more efficiently than road.
5. Rail freight transport is also for bulky shipments
Finally, lastadvantage of rail transportis related to the volume of goods that can be transported. With a capacity of 100 m3, a standard freight wagon can carry between 50 and 60 tonnes of goods. This is twice as much as can be transported by a truck.
Rail freight transport therefore offers a large storage capacity. This quantity can be even greater depending on the number of wagons used.
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