Editing Rail transport (section)

===Freight trains===
{{Main|Rail freight transport|Freight train}}

[[File:Wagons 550.jpg|thumb|Bulk cargo of minerals on a train]]Freight trains carry [[cargo]] using [[goods wagon|freight cars]] specialized for the type of goods. Freight trains are very efficient, with economy of scale and high energy efficiency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rail freight in the next decade: Potential for performance improvements? |url=https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/82922/rail-freight-next-decade-improvements/ |website=Global Railway Review |access-date=27 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201064926/https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/82922/rail-freight-next-decade-improvements/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, their use can be reduced by lack of flexibility, if there is need of transshipment at both ends of the trip due to lack of tracks to the points of pick-up and delivery. Authorities often encourage the use of cargo rail transport due to its efficiency and to reduce road traffic.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/environmental-issues/| title=Environmental Issues| publisher=The Environmental Blog| date=3 April 2007| access-date=10 October 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111153436/http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/environmental-issues/| archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref>

[[Containerization|Container trains]] have become widely used in many places for general freight, particularly in North America, where [[double-stack rail transport|double stacking]] reduces costs. Containers can easily be transshipped between other modes, such as ships and trucks, and at [[break of gauge|breaks of gauge]]. Containers have succeeded the [[boxcar]] (wagon-load), where the cargo had to be loaded and unloaded into the train manually. The intermodal [[containerization]] of cargo has revolutionized the [[supply chain]] [[logistics]] industry, reducing shipping costs significantly. In Europe, the [[Goods van#Sliding wall wagons|sliding wall wagon]] has largely superseded the [[Goods van|ordinary covered wagons]]. Other types of cars include [[refrigerator car]]s, [[stock car (rail)|stock cars]] for livestock and [[autorack]]s for road vehicles. When rail is combined with road transport, a [[roadrailer]] will allow [[semi-trailer|trailers]] to be driven onto the train, allowing for easy transition between road and rail.

[[Bulk material handling|Bulk handling]] represents a key advantage for rail transport. Low or even zero transshipment costs combined with energy efficiency and low inventory costs allow trains to handle [[bulk cargo|bulk]] much cheaper than by road. Typical bulk cargo includes coal, ore, grains and liquids. Bulk is transported in [[gondola (rail)|open-topped cars]], [[hopper car]]s and [[tank car]]