Definition of Mixed Freight Trains

Offering cost-effective and environmentally friendly movement alternatives such as mixed freight trains is critical to rail industry growth and effective competition with trucks.

Function

Mixed freight refers to the movement of multiple car types or commodities within a single train. Mixed freight trains are also referred to as manifest trains.

Features

Cars move through classification yards, where they are sorted and put on new trains to continue their trip to their destination. Cars will generally travel on two or more trains to get from origin to destination.

Identification

Mixed freight trains can often be identified by the variety of car types on the train. Instead of consisting of all coal hoppers or grain jumbos, a mixed freight train typically has boxcars, covered hoppers, flats, gondolas and other car types.

Benefits

Mixed freight service supports customers shipping small volumes or with shipping patterns that vary. Freight transportation is generally more cost effective than trucks for distances of more than 500 miles.

Environmental Considerations

Trains can move a ton an average 436 miles on 1 gallon of diesel fuel. A mixed freight train can take the load of 280 trucks off the road.

References

• Rail Freight Transportation (Georgia Institute of Technology)
• American Association of Railroads