What is 'Rail Transport'

Definition: Rail transport is also known as train transport. It is a means of transport, on vehicles which run on tracks (rails or railroads). It is one of the most important, commonly used and very cost effective modes of commuting and goods carriage over long, as well as, short distances. Since this system runs on metal (usually steel) rails and wheels, it has an inherent benefit of lesser frictional resistance which helps attach more load in terms of wagons or carriages. This system is known as a train. Usually, trains are powered by an engine locomotive running on electricity or on diesel. Complex signaling systems are utilised if there are multiple route networks. Rail transport is also one of the fastest modes of land transport.

Description: Rail transport has emerged as one of the most dependable modes of transport in terms of safety. Trains are fast and the least affected by usual weather turbulences like rain or fog, compared to other transport mechanisms. Rail transport is better organised than any other medium of transport. It has fixed routes and schedules. Its services are more certain, uniform and regular compared to other modes of transport. Rail transport originated from human hauled contraptions in ancient Greece. Now it has evolved into a modern, complex and sophisticated system used both in urban and cross-country (and continent) networks over long distances.

Rail transport is an enabler of economic progress, used to mobilise goods as well as people. Adaptations include passenger railways, underground (or over ground) urban metro railways and goods carriages. Rail transport has some constraints and limitations also. One of the biggest constraints of rail transport is heavy cost. Trains need high capital to build and maintain and the cost is magnified when a whole rail network is to be built. The cost of construction, maintenance and overhead expenses are very high compared to other modes of transport. Also, 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.

Why should one use railway transport?

It is quite common to hear the opinion expressed that cargo freight transportation via rail is a slow process. However, is this really the case?

Unlike trucks, trains do not get lost in remote locations, do not get their tyres punctured, do not get stuck in traffic jams and do not have to wait in lines to cross national borders. Railway transport is not affected by bad weather and thus can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

About two to three times heavier loads can be transported in a single carriage than a single lorry, and because of this, it is much more convenient to transport extremely heavy or oversize cargo by rail.

Furthermore, by choosing to transport for freight by rail, clients will save about 30% in costs.

Cargo transportation by railway

Cargo forwarding by railway involves collaboration between the national railways of various countries (in addition to railway transport companies) and clients. If a client needs to transport cargo via an international route, they have only to contact us and sign the service contract.

„Railana“ has contracts with most of the transport companies of the CIS, Baltic and Western Europe countries. Thus, our company will take care of obligations including railway transportation taxes and national border customs management for the client. RAILANA will suggest the optimal route for railway transportation and take care of shipment documentation in order to reduce expenditure on transportation.

We quarantee:

Operative transportation charge assessment

Optimal route selection in order to deliver your cargo as fast as possible with the lowest possible expenditure

Payment of transportation taxes

Consultation regarding various questions related to cargo freight

Cargo insurance Possibility to transport oversized and dangerous cargo

Carriage tracking system

Every carriage is routed according to the railway administration plan and every carriage has its own code number, and so it is possible to find out the location of any carriage at any time.

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