Container Shipping by Rail

A container is a special type of transport that can be carried on other types of transport: sea, air, road, rail. Thanks to this feature, there is no need to unload the contents from the container when transferring cargo from one type of transport to another, which allows for "door-to-door" shipping. At the same time, the container itself protects the cargo from atmospheric precipitation, so it can be transported on open platforms and sites.

What and Where Can Be Shipped in Containers

Depending on their type, containers can carry almost any cargo. Containers are used to send:

• Personal belongings.
• Bottled alcoholic beverages.
• Clothing and footwear.
• Household appliances.
• Industrial equipment.
• Cars.
• Any other cargo that can be placed in a container.

Shipping cargo in a container allows for the movement of groupage cargo, meaning that different shippers' goods intended for different recipients can be sent in one container.

Thanks to the ability to transport containers by different means, global shipping is possible. Containers can be sent not only to Europe, China, Russia, or Turkey, but also to Africa, America, and Australia.

Types of Containers Used on Railways

The railways of the former USSR still use three and five-ton containers, mainly intended for transporting personal belongings. However, the main volume of shipments is provided by ISO containers. These are standardized reusable containers for transport by all types of transport, adapted for transfers from one transport to another. ISO containers can be 10, 20, 30, 40, and 45 feet long. However, 20-foot and 40-foot containers are the most widely used.

The carrying capacity of a 20-foot container is 24 tons, and its useful volume is 33 cubic meters. A 40-foot container has a carrying capacity of 30.5 tons and a useful volume of 67.7 cubic meters.

What Affects the Cost of Container Shipping by Rail

The cost of shipping cargo in a container will depend on the weight and volume of the cargo, the chosen type of container, and the distance of delivery. For regular shipments of container cargo, it makes sense to rent containers for a long term, which will save on shipping costs. You can rent: 1; 10; 50; as many containers as you need.