Rail freight, a high-performance logistics solution that’s more accessible than it seems
The importance of training young people in logistics professions
20 January 2026
- 5 minutes
Long perceived as rigid, complex or reserved for large industrial groups, rail freight is increasingly being used to transport goods.
Against a backdrop of pressure on transport costs, a shortage of truck drivers and growing environmental demands, this solution is gradually establishing itself as a credible, high-performance and competitive logistics alternative .
Properly used, rail freight can become a real lever for logistics performance, operational reliability and the decarbonisation of flows.
What is rail freight?
Rail freight refers to the transport of goods by train, on dedicated rail lines. Rail freight can take several forms:
Full train: a train chartered for a single shipper with large volumes.
- Isolated wagons: Several loaders share the same train.
- Combined rail-road transport(intermodal transport): This means that goods are transported by train over long distances, then by truck for the first and last few kilometers. This is a hybrid transport solution.
Today, this diversity of offers covers a wide range of logistics needs: raw materials, manufactured goods, consumer goods, industrial flows or long-distance logistics.
Intermodal logistics solutions and multimodal platforms have played a major role in making rail freight more accessible and flexible.
Why choose rail freight? An efficient logistics solution under certain conditions
Rail freight is not intended to systematically replace road transport, but it can be an interesting alternative.
In some cases, it tends to improve overall supply chain performance.
Long or regular distances
For long, regular distances (over 300-400 km), rail freight becomes particularly relevant, for operational, financial and environmental reasons. Indeed, over long distances, rail emits much less CO2 than trucks, which is a real environmental challenge. Rail’s fixed costs are also lower than those of road haulage.
Consolidated volumes
Rail freight is particularly interesting for large volumes. In fact, it’s a real advantage to be able to group goods together and transport them together, and rail freight is the solution of choice.
By pooling flows (via operators or multimodal hubs), rail freight reduces unit costs while guaranteeing high, constant capacity.
Integration into an intermodal strategy
Rail freight is rarely used on its own. Combined with road transport for the first and last kilometers, it is an integral part of a more agile and resilient hybrid logistics strategy.
Rail freight and reliability: an often underestimated asset
One of the major advantages of rail freight is its predictability. Unlike road transport, it is less exposed to traffic jams, accidents, traffic restrictions, driver shortages or extreme variations in fuel costs.
This stability reinforces the reliability of lead times, an essential criterion for any successful logistics operation.
Rail freight is also a powerful lever for logistics decarbonization, which reinforces its environmental reliability.
Indeed, rail freight emits on average 6 to 9 times less CO₂ than road transport per tonne carried.
Against a backdrop of growing environmental awareness, with increasingly stringent customer requirements and a desire to reduce carbon footprints, rail freight is a real asset.
Integrating rail into a logistics solution allows you to :
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
- Improve CSR indicators,
- Reinforce brand image with customers and partners,
- Anticipate future regulatory constraints.
Sustainable logistics is no longer a secondary argument: it has become a competitive criterion.
Improved accessibility thanks to new logistics models
If rail freight has long been perceived as complex, it’s mainly due to inflexible models and a lack of clarity in the offering.
Today, many players offer turnkey solutions, integrating planning, flow monitoring, cost optimization and intermodal coordination, making this new logistics model more accessible, especially to SMEs.
Rail freight as part of a global logistics strategy
Today, the decision to switch to rail freight is not the result of an overall strategic reflection. It involves analysing flows, volumes, operational constraints and performance objectives.
When properly integrated, rail freight secures transport capacity, reduces dependence on road haulage, optimizes long-term costs and improves the robustness of the logistics chain.
In this sense, rail freight is not in opposition to road transport, but an intelligent complement to it.
Rail freight is proving to be an innovative solution, and an alternative of choice under certain controlled conditions. It is a powerful logistics tool, combining operational performance, flow reliability and reduced environmental impact. Used wisely, this tool can help companies reconcile competitiveness, resilience and responsibility, acting as a strategic lever for efficient, sustainable logistics.
