Freight Operations Using Railways

Freight or cargo trains are loaded and unloaded in intermodal terminals (also called container freight stations or freight terminals), and at customer locations (e.g. mines, grain elevators, factories). Intermodal freight transport uses standardized containers, which are handled by cranes. Along their routes, freight trains are routed through rail yards to sort cars and assemble trains for their final destinations, as well as for equipment maintenance, refueling, and crew changes. Within a freight yard, trains are composed in a classification yard. Switcher or shunter locomotives help the composing.

A unit train (also called a block train, укр. – вантажний уніфікований состав поїзда), which carries a block of cars all of the same origin and destination, does not get sorted in a classification yard, but may stop in a freight yard for inspection, engine servicing and/or crew changes.

Combining freight and passenger operations on a single track with passing loops poses operational problems, because of the different demands of freight operators and public transport. In many smaller countries passenger operations are done during the day, while freight trains operate mostly during the night.

Locomotive Hauled Trains

The traditional train comprises a collection of coaches (or freight wagons) with suitable motive power attached in the form of a locomotive. The train is made up of sufficient vehicles to carry the traffic offering and provided with enough power for the job. For passenger operations, one locomotive is usually sufficient.  In heavy freight operations, this number might go up to four locomotives on the front and at some other places along the train.

A good deal of flexibility is possible with locomotive haulage. As long as the train weight remains within the capacity of the locomotive(s), any number of vehicles can be attached, although limits will be imposed by platform or siding lengths. Locomotives themselves can also be flexible, many being designed to cover a range of duties.

The advantages for locomotive hauled trains mean they are the best option for many railway operators around the world, particularly freight but, where traffic is dense, i.e. where a large number of trains are required, a more rational approach is necessary, particularly at terminals.  In addition, in very predictable operations like commuter services or metro lines, fixed formation trains will be the most efficient.

Locomotive Operations and Maintenance of Way Operations

When inactive, locomotives are housed in a locomotive depot (UK term) or engine house (US). In engine facilities, or a traction maintenance depot, locomotives are cleaned, repaired, etc. Decommissioned locomotives are sometimes used to heat passenger cars and defrost railroad switches in winter. After this period, locomotives (and other rail vehicles) are turned into scrap or are left to rust in a train depot.

Steam locomotives are housed in a circular train depot, a roundhouse that surrounds a turntable.

The presence of a work train on a given section of track will temporarily decrease the capacity of the route. The normal method in such operations is to cease other traffic altogether during the track 'occupation'. Services may be diverted by an alternative route, if available; alternatively, passenger services may be maintained using a replacement bus service. It is therefore more economically viable to plan such track occupations for periods of reduced usage (e.g. 'off-peak', overnight or holiday times) to minimise the impact on normal services and revenue.