Deciding which shipping method to choose for a shipment that needs to be shipped to a remote location can sometimes be a mind-boggling thing. Depending on the distance your cargo needs to cover, you have a few options. If you’re shipping to another continent, your options are fairly limited, either by sea or by air. However, if you’re interested in the same continent, things get more interesting. In this article, I will explain the benefits of using rail freight.
1. Cost-effectiveness
This is one of the main benefits of choosing rail transport. Trains use far less fuel than any other mode of transport, which means it will be cheaper to transport goods using this method than any other. However, it depends on whether you want to build a whole train to transport one thing or just put it on a train that is already running. If you put it on a train that is already running, you will save more money than using other means of transport to transport it over the same distance.
Also, another thing that affects the price of transportation is that trains have more space and are able to carry more cargo. The price is lower due to less space and because it is not as unique, a train can carry more than a heavy goods vehicle (HGV).
Finally, further savings can be achieved by jointly renting trains with some other companies that need to transport along the same route. Joint chartering is one of the main ways for companies to carry freight.
2. Railway transportation is environmentally friendly, with low exhaust emissions
Today, loving our planet is a must. From an environmental perspective, rail freight is an excellent transport option compared to air and sea-air transport. The main environmental advantage of rail freight is the reduction of air emissions. When comparing the CO2 emissions of different modes of transport, it is clear that rail freight is the winner.
Looking at the distance between China and Northern Europe, air transport consumes 139 tons of CO2. The combined sea and air consumption consumes about 77 tons of carbon dioxide. However, rail freight consumes only 5 tons of CO2. This is only a drop in the ocean by comparison, which means rail is the greenest option if shipping takes too long.
3. Multi-mode compatibility
The containers and trailers used are suitable for road and rail freight – sometimes called intermodal. This means there is no need to unload and load at transfer stations; containers or trailers are simply lifted from train to truck as needed. DSV also offers less than full trailers or containers where your cargo is loaded with that of other customers.
4. Reliability
The days of major rail accidents are long gone, and rail safety and security have really improved over the past few decades. Since then, rail freight has become one of the safest solutions for transporting goods. Also, as accuracy and punctuality improve, it becomes very reliable, the only more punctual shipping method is by air. Because it runs on rail, there is nothing blocking the train’s path along the way, meaning there are no delays due to external factors. So, if you require your goods to be delivered on time, this is what you should choose.
5. Rail freight is fast and reliable, and the delivery time is short
Rail freight is a fast, highly reliable mode of transportation with shorter delivery times than ocean freight. Let’s look again at the distance between China and Northern Europe.
One of the biggest challenges for companies producing in China is the long lead times for shipping to Europe. Shipping from China to Northern Europe usually takes six to seven weeks. With rail freight, it is possible to cut the transport time more or less in half, thereby reducing the delivery time significantly. This is especially beneficial for companies in the FMCG industry that demand short lead times. Shorter lead times also make it easier to forecast business operations and costs, which can positively impact capital constraints. (I’ll cover that further in this blog post.)
Rail freight is also a very punctual mode of transportation. Unlike road freight and ocean freight, which are subject to congestion and bad weather conditions, there is little to impede the rail’s path, reducing the risk of sudden delays.
