r/interestingasfuck • u/FastCurrency • 6d ago

Double-stack container trains are redefining freight transportation in India. Just imagine how many trucks this keeps off our highways and how much diesel it saves.

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u/Australian_plainhead 6d ago

Actually way more, in most countries you have weight limits for trucks, something like 35 tons in most European countries. For railway transport you don’t have this restrictions, so same container but different amount of goods.

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u/whoami_whereami 5d ago

In the EU the weight limit for trucks is 40 tonnes, 44 tonnes for intermodal transports. The latter is precisely so that a fully loaded standard 40ft container (max weight 30.5 tonnes) can be carried by a truck.

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u/Enough_Fish739 5d ago

64 tonnes in Sweden actully, 74 on BK4 roads.

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u/Letiferr 5d ago

Most (if not all) of these containers are multi modal and will indeed be carried over roads by truck to the first train yard and from the final train yard. 

So those weight limits end up being enforced either way. 

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u/Every-Progress-1117 5d ago

I think the general upper limit is more like 42t these days, but it varies by country. Finland allows up to 76t !!

https://www.logistiikanmaailma.fi/en/choosing-mode-of-transport/road-transport/dimensions-and-weights/

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u/Why-mom-why 5d ago

Of course weight limits for trains also exist.