Traditionally, large shippers build factories and warehouses near rail lines
and have a section of track on their property called a siding where goods are
loaded on to or unloaded from rail cars. Other shippers have their goods hauled
(drayed) by wagon or truck to or from a goods station. Smaller locomotives
transfer the rail cars from the sidings and goods stations to a classification
yard, where each car is coupled to one of several long distance trains being
assembled there, depending on that car's destination. When long enough, or
based on a schedule, each long distance train is then dispatched to another
classification yard. At the next classification yard, cars are resorted. Those
that are destined for stations served by that yard are assigned to local trains
for delivery. Others are reassembled into trains heading to classification
yards closer to their final destination. A single car might be reclassified or
switched in several yards before reaching its final destination, a process that
made rail freight slow and increased costs. Many freight rail operators are
trying to reduce these costs by reducing or eliminating switching in
classification yards through techniques such as unit trains and
containerization. In many countries, railroads have been built to haul one
commodity, such as coal or ore, from an inland point to a port.
Rail traffic fell in July from a year ago as an increase in container
volumes couldn’t offset a steep decline in oil and coal shipments, the Association
of American Railroads said in its monthly report Friday.
The number of carloads carrying oil and petroleum products dropped 13.6%
from a year ago to 67,909 last month, while coal volumes sank 12.5%. Container
shipments rose 3.8% to 1.2 million. Traffic overall fell 1.8% to 2.7 million,
the association said.
Oil-train shipments have tumbled this year, hurt by plunging prices for
crude and concerns about the safety of transporting petroleum by rail. That,
plus declining demand for coal from power plants and overseas buyers, has hit
railroad operators’ earnings. So if you want for Railway shipping &
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