Rail Shipping

Rail Shipping

Shipping Reliably and Affordably

Utilize the efficiency, reliability, and affordability of our all-encompassing rail shipping offerings. LHP Transportation Services spans all of Mexico, America and Canada, providing the versatility and breadth to cater to every business. Read more below

  • A close up of train tracks on a gravel road.

Advantages of Rail Shipping

Rail shipping is environmentally friendly, cost-effective due to economies of scale, and offers consistent delivery times unaffected by weather or traffic.

When to Use Rail Freight

Rail shipping is particularly valuable for businesses transporting large, non-urgent, or bulky items over long distances where road transport may be challenging or costly.

Connectivity with Other Modes

Rail freight doesn’t operate in isolation. Often, goods transported by train are transferred to trucks or ships for the beginning or end parts of their journey. This multimodal approach ensures goods reach places not directly accessible by rail. Integration with other transport modes provides flexibility and ensures a wider reach for businesses.

Rail Freight: The Basics

Rail freight involves transporting goods over long distances using trains. As one of the oldest methods of shipping, it's stood the test of time due to its efficiency and capability to handle bulk goods. Trains can carry a wide variety of cargo, from raw materials like coal and timber to finished products like cars and electronics. Because of their design, trains can transport large quantities at once, making it a cost-effective option for many businesses.

More Info
  • A blue train is on the tracks next to a green train

FAQ's

  • Bulk Shipping via Rail

    Unpacked, large quantities


    Bulk cargo, often unpackaged and in large quantities, dominates freight railroads, with specialized hopper cars, either open or covered, facilitating automated handling, loading, and unloading.

  • Container Shipping

    Single or Double Stacked


    Double-stack containerization involves transporting two containers, one atop the other, on a single rail car, optimizing space and improving freight efficiency. Single stack: A truck driver positions a semi trailer onto an Adaptor Plate (similar to a large automation pallet), unhitches the trailer, anchors it to the Adaptor Plate, and drives away. The Adaptor Plate is automatically staged, via conveyors, along side of a set of train tracks.

  • Refrigerated Shipping

    Temperature Controlled


    Refrigerated rail cars, or "reefers", are refrigerated boxcars designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. They are insulated and equipped with a built-in refrigeration system, which can use ice or other technologies

  • Special Cargo on Rail

    Custom Rail Cars


    Various cargo types require specialized rail cars, such as autoracks for automobiles, coil cars for steel strips, refrigerator cars for temperature-sensitive goods, center beam flat cars for lumber, and Schnabel cars for oversized loads.

  • Shipping Modes on Rail

    What type of rail car is needed?


    Rail freight utilizes various types of cargo carriers, including box cars for general items, flat cars for heavy or sizable loads, well wagons for road vehicles, refrigerator vans for food, open-topped wagons for bulk materials like minerals and coal, and tankers for liquids and gases. Coal and aggregates typically move in hopper wagons or gondolas for quick filling and discharging, streamlining material handling.

Your Rail & Intermodal Partner

Feel free to contact us for additional info

Rail & Intermodal Shipping

LHP Transportation Services manages hundreds of Rail & Intermodal loads each year, all across North America.

Share by: