Rail transport is an efficient and sustainable way to move passengers and goods over long distances, playing an important role in global logistics systems due to its economic, environmental, and safety benefits. The following are some of the key features of rail transport:
1. Key features of rail transport
High capacity:
Ability to carry thousands of tons of goods in a single journey (such as bulk coal or grain trains).
Carry hundreds of passengers on high-speed or intercity trains.
Effective cost:
The cost of transporting each ton of goods by rail is up to 40% lower than road transport.
Emission reduction:
CO₂ emissions per ton-km are up to 75% lower than trucks.
Safety:
Lower risk of accidents than road transport.
2. Types of Rail Systems
Freight Trains:
Carrying bulk materials (coal, oil, grain), containers, and automobiles.
Passenger Trains:
Including urban trains (metro), intercity, and high-speed (High-Speed Rail).
Intermodal Trains:
Transferring containers between ships, trucks, and trains.
Maglev:
Floating trains with magnetic technology (speeds up to 600 km / h).
3. Advantages of Rail Transportation
Energy Efficiency:
Energy consumption per ton of goods is up to 80% less than road transportation.
Reduction in road traffic:
Each freight train is equivalent to 70 to 100 trucks.
Hard Weather Stability:
Better performance in snow, rain, or storms than on the road.
Integrated infrastructure:
Possibility of connecting to international networks (such as transit corridors).
4. Challenges of rail transport
High initial investment:
The cost of building tracks, bridges, and stations is very high.
Limited flexibility:
Dependence on fixed routes and lack of access to remote areas.
Complex maintenance:
Requires constant inspection of rails, signaling systems, and locomotives.
Competition with other methods:
On short routes, road transport is faster and more economical.
5. Global success stories
China:
The world’s largest high-speed rail network (over 40,000 km).
The Yiwu-Madrid railway line (the world’s longest container route at 13,000 km).
Europe:
The integrated TEN-T network to connect European countries.
Austria’s Nightjet trains to reduce carbon emissions.
USA:
Carrying 40% of the country’s freight by companies such as Union Pacific.
6. New technologies in rail transport
Self-driving trains:
Using artificial intelligence and advanced navigation systems.
Smart rails:
Sensors to monitor rail health and predict failures.
Clean fuels:
Replacing diesel with electricity, hydrogen, or hybrid batteries.
5G connectivity:
Improving communications between trains and control centers.
7. Rail transport in Iran
Existing network:
The length of rail lines is about 14,000 km, focusing on north-south and east-west routes.
Key projects such as the Chabahar-Zahedan railway and connection to Afghanistan.
Challenges:
Fleet obsolescence (average age of locomotives is over 30 years).
Need to develop electrified and high-speed lines.
Opportunities:
Role of INSTC corridor (connecting India to Russia via Iran).
Boosting mineral and agricultural exports using trains.
8. Future of Rail Transport
Growth of international corridors:
China’s Belt and Road Initiative to connect Asia to Europe and Africa.
Combination with renewable energy:
Use of solar or wind energy to power trains.
Multimodal transport:
Integration of rail with road, sea, and air to optimize logistics.
Conclusion
With advantages such as environmental sustainability, high capacity, and cost efficiency, rail transport is recognized as a main pillar in the global logistics system. However, to compete with other methods, it requires infrastructure modernization, new technologies, and international cooperation. In Iran, investment in the development of railway lines and integration with transit corridors could strengthen the country’s position as a regional transportation hub.
