Types of freight railway cars

Rail transportation is rightfully considered one of the most reliable and cost-effective ways to deliver goods over long distances. This type of transportation is characterized by high capacity, increased safety and the ability to transport a wide variety of categories of goods. Freight railway cars, which are specially designed to meet the requirements for transporting certain types of goods, play a key role in rail transport. In this article, we will consider in detail the main types of freight cars, their design features, intended purpose and the main advantages of operation in Ukraine and Europe.

What is a freight railway car?

A freight railway car is a specialized non-self-propelled vehicle designed to transport various goods along railway lines. It is an important part of the rolling stock and is designed to ensure safe and reliable transportation of goods, their protection from external factors, as well as ease of loading and unloading. Various freight trains – types differ in design, intended purpose, carrying capacity and dimensions – are used for specific transportation tasks. 

Main types of freight railway cars

Freight railway cars are classified by their purpose and operating features. Let’s consider the main types of railway cars.

Covered cars

These freight cars are trains with a fully enclosed body. They are equipped with rigid side walls, a roof and sliding doors, and protect the goods from precipitation, dust and mechanical damage. These cars are supplied for loading goods that require a certain level of safety, including food products, household appliances, paper and other types of cargo that are sensitive to the environment.

Their main features:

• Protection from external influences.
• A variety of sizes and load capacities.
• Possibility of transporting special cargo.

Covered cars are designed to transport the following products:

• Food products – flour, sugar, canned goods, coffee, tea, etc.
• Household appliances.
• Clothing and textiles.
• Medicines and medical products.

Gondola cars

Gondola cars are open-top cars with high sides, which allows transporting cargo that does not require protection from precipitation. They are widely used in heavy industry and construction.

Main advantages:

• High load-bearing capacity of cars.
• Easy loading and unloading.
• Resistance to mechanical loads.

Examples of cargo for transportation in gondola cars:

• Coal and ore.
• Crushed stone and sand.
• Scrap metal.
• Construction materials – cement, brick, reinforcement.

Flatcars

A flatcar is an open railway freight car, which is a flat area without a roof and side walls. They are used to transport heavy and non-standard cargo that does not fit into covered cars. Due to their design, platforms provide ease of loading and unloading, and also allow easy securing of the objects being transported.

Main advantages of platforms:

• Ability to transport non-standard and large-sized cargo, including long and heavy structures.
• Simplicity and reliability of fastening of transported objects, which reduces the risk of their damage in transit.
• Convenience during loading and unloading operations, especially with the use of crane equipment.

Types of cargo transported on platforms:

• Containers of various types and sizes.
• Automotive equipment, including cars and trucks, as well as specialized equipment (excavators, bulldozers, etc.).
• Forest products (logs, lumber).
• Metal structures and building materials that require open transportation.

Tanks

A tank is a freight car specially designed for the transportation of liquid and gaseous substances. Their design provides for tightness, and some models are additionally equipped with thermal insulation, which allows maintaining the required temperature for the transported liquids.

The main types of substances transported in tanks:

• Petroleum products: gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil and other flammable liquids.
• Liquefied gases: propane, butane, ammonia and other substances requiring storage under pressure.
• Chemical reagents: acids, alkalis, solvents, toxic and aggressive substances.
• Food liquids: milk, vegetable oils, wine and other products requiring sanitary storage standards.

Hoppers and grain trucks

A hopper is a freight car with a bunker design for transporting bulk cargo by rail. Their main advantage is the presence of an automated unloading system through the lower hatches, which significantly speeds up the process of unloading the material.

Grain trucks are a specialized type of hoppers, intended exclusively for the transportation of grain crops. They are designed in such a way as to ensure the safety of the cargo, prevent moisture from entering and minimize losses during transportation.

The main advantages of hoppers and grain trucks:

• The parameters of the freight car provide accelerated unloading due to the lower hatches and mechanized systems.
• Reliable protection of the cargo from external factors, including precipitation and temperature fluctuations.
• High capacity, allowing you to transport large volumes of bulk materials in one trip.

Refrigerated cars

The main characteristic of freight cars of this type is the presence of refrigeration units that provide temperature control inside the compartment.

Transported goods:

• Meat, fish and dairy products.
• Fruits and vegetables.
• Medicines and vaccines.

Differences in the carrying capacity of railway cars

The carrying capacity of a car depends on its design and purpose. Different types of cars have their own limitations on the weight of the cargo they can transport. For example, covered cars can hold from 50 to 70 tons. Gondola cars can withstand up to 75 tons.

Flatbed freight cars – carrying capacity up to 80 tons. Tanks for liquids or hoppers for bulk cargo have different permissible loads depending on their design and purpose. The maximum carrying capacity of cars is found in heavy cars transporting industrial equipment and massive containers – the dimensions of a railway car allow you to transport up to 125 tons.

How is a car selected for a specific load?

Each railway car has a purpose and design features. The cost of transportation also varies depending on the type of freight cars. The choice of the type of railway cars for cargo is made taking into account several key factors.

Cargo characteristics:

• Physical condition — solid, bulk, liquid, gaseous.
• Weight and dimensions.
• Fragility, susceptibility to mechanical damage.
• Need for protection from moisture, dust, temperature changes.

Transportation conditions requirements:

• Is a temperature regime required, for example, for food products, medicines.
• Is tightness required — for liquids, gases, chemicals.
• Is ventilation required — for wood, vegetables, fruits.

Types of freight cars by loading and unloading method:

• Top loading, for example, for bulk cargo in hoppers.
• Side loading — for standard cargo in covered wagons.
• Bottom unloading — for grain trucks and hoppers.
• Is special fastening required — for cars, large-sized structures.

Optimization of logistics:

• Distances, routes and delivery speed are taken into account.
• The choice based on the classification of freight cars affects the economic efficiency of transportation.
• Availability of specialized cars in a specific region.

Advantages of rail transportation from Neolit ​​Logistics

Neolit ​​Logistics provides comprehensive rail transportation services in Ukraine, guaranteeing reliability, speed and competitive prices.

Why choose Neolit ​​Logistics?

• Optimized routes. Well-designed logistics schemes allow you to minimize transportation costs.
• Modern rolling stock. The company has various types of cars suitable for any type of cargo.
• Control over delivery. The ability to track the location of the cargo in real time.
• Individual approach and competitive rates with reasonable cost.
• High security. All transportation is carried out in compliance with strict safety standards.

Neolit ​​Logistics provides efficient rail transportation that meets the requirements of modern business. By contacting us, you choose a reliable logistics partner in Ukraine.