European Railroad Discussion > Train lengths

Noting webcams in various European and British sights, and having experienced train travel extensively in Europe and Britain, I can't help but make comparisons between US and European trains.  I hope this is received in the spirit with which it is offered.  First, passenger trains in all of Europe, including Britain, are a much more integral part of life there, accordingly, the system is much more comprehensive, efficient and less costly than anything in the US, but comparing the two systems is a bit of apples and pears.  The freight system is of much more interest.  In the mountainous US west, four or five 4300 horsepower locomotives pull as many as two hundred cars.  In the much flatter Midwest and most of the East,  two or three or sometimes just one locomotive will pull over 120 cars, even on short distances, while most European freight consists I've seen rarely exceed one locomotive and fewer than 40 cars.  This difference has to do with shorter distances?  Different country's technical requirements?  Please comment, as it's a huge difference which is just not obvious to this reporter.  Thanks in advance.

a737flyer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Noting webcams in various European and British
> sights, and having experienced train travel
> extensively in Europe and Britain, I can't help
> but make comparisons between US and European
> trains.  I hope this is received in the spirit
> with which it is offered.  First, passenger
> trains in all of Europe, including Britain, are a
> much more integral part of life there,
> accordingly, the system is much more
> comprehensive, efficient and less costly than
> anything in the US, but comparing the two systems
> is a bit of apples and pears.  The freight system
> is of much more interest.  In the mountainous US
> west, four or five 4300 horsepower locomotives
> pull as many as two hundred cars.  In the much
> flatter Midwest and most of the East,  two or
> three or sometimes just one locomotive will pull
> over 120 cars, even on short distances, while most
> European freight consists I've seen rarely exceed
> one locomotive and fewer than 40 cars.  This
> difference has to do with shorter distances?
>  Different country's technical requirements?
>  Please comment, as it's a huge difference which
> is just not obvious to this reporter.  Thanks in
> advance.

This is a perennial subject on this board, comes up a few times every year in some form or another. Most European flows are over much shorter distances than in North America. Here in the UK the longest flow today is probably Coatbridge (in Scotland) to the port of Felixstowe (in Eastern England), about 470 miles. Over those 470 miles the intermodal service will be required to run at 75 mph to avoid delaying 100mph, 110 mph and 125 mph passenger trains, so acceleration and braking become critical. And our infrastructure is simply not geared to excessive train lengths, 42 40' platforms is the longest intermodal you'll find here. Any longer would require significant infrastructure enhancements for which a business case might be marginal at best. Short, fast-ish trains crewed by a single member of staff is the rule here.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/25 10:25 by 86235.

a737flyer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Noting webcams in various European and British
> sights, and having experienced train travel
> extensively in Europe and Britain, I can't help
> but make comparisons between US and European
> trains.  I hope this is received in the spirit
> with which it is offered.  First, passenger
> trains in all of Europe, including Britain, are a
> much more integral part of life there,
> accordingly, the system is much more
> comprehensive, efficient and less costly than
> anything in the US, but comparing the two systems
> is a bit of apples and pears.  The freight system
> is of much more interest.  In the mountainous US
> west, four or five 4300 horsepower locomotives
> pull as many as two hundred cars.  In the much
> flatter Midwest and most of the East,  two or
> three or sometimes just one locomotive will pull
> over 120 cars, even on short distances, while most
> European freight consists I've seen rarely exceed
> one locomotive and fewer than 40 cars.  This
> difference has to do with shorter distances?
>  Different country's technical requirements?
>  Please comment, as it's a huge difference which
> is just not obvious to this reporter.  Thanks in
> advance.

The length restrictions are driven by many factors.
First, is by passing siding length as a result of the
type of passenger trains using the line. Even
though many lines are double track or two main
track. Train lengths on the TEN-T network are
required allow trains of 700 meters, plus 
allowance for one locomotive and a small amount
of slack. The Nordic countries have a greater
allowance of train length, 850 to 1,000 meters.
The vast majority of trains are operated on 
behalf of a single company such as BASF or
Holcim. Some trains are operated on behalf of
an IMC such as Hupac, Kombiverkehr, or
BoxXpress. so on those trains you will see
trailers and swapbodies from many companies.
But to the railway company it is just one 
company they bill, the IMC. The price is the
same, whether there is one TEU on the train
or it is full. so it is up to the IMC to make sure
the train is as fully loaded as possible. With
the shorter length of trains in Europe many
manufacturing companies can afford to have
trainloads operated on their behalf. Take for 
example Holcim Cement located at
Siggenthal, Switzerland. It receives a
trainload (19 wagons) of pulverized
Lignite in PD Hoppers every other day.
The train originates from the mines SW
of Köln and is operated by RheinCargo
throughout. The train is operated by just
two men, one from Brühl to Weil am Rhein
another from Weil to the plant and back, and
the first Driver takes the train from Weil to
Brühl on his rest. There are three sets of
hoppers in the pool, one being loaded,
one in transit, and one being unloaded.
There is no storage pile. the Lignite goes
straight into the furnace from the hoppers.

To see what freight is like on the European
mainland may I suggest Cabride videos by
Alexfuhrerstandmitfahrt's channel and
Rail_Tom's channel, and lorirocks777
channel on the video website not to be
mentioned here. They tend to share 
complete information on the train they are
operating.

As  Nick stated it is the braking and 
acceleration requirements that drive
freight train operations, slower heavier
freight trains can be operated, but the
pathing costs skyrocket, so such trains
are very rare. The Iron Ore trains out
of Hamburg and Rotterdam are the best 
examples. Both services try to operate
over secondary lines with only stopping
passenger trains as much as possible.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/25 18:00 by SOO6617.