How many shipping containers are transported by rail each year?
Transporting shipping containers by rail is an increasingly important segment of global logistics. With increasing demands for efficiency, environmental friendliness and speed, rail transport is becoming the preferred choice for many companies. But how many shipping containers are actually transported by rail each year? Let’s look at some interesting statistics and facts.
The importance of container transport by rail
Container transport by rail offers several key advantages over other modes of transport. The most important ones include:
- Environmentally friendly: Rail transport has lower CO2 emissions per tonne-kilometre compared to road freight transport.
- Efficiency: Rail makes it possible to transport a large number of containers at once, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
- Security: Containers transported by rail are less prone to damage and theft.
Global statistics
According to available sources, millions of shipping containers are transported by rail every year. In Europe, for example, around 18 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) were transported by rail in 2020. In Asia, especially in China, this figure is even higher thanks to extensive investment in rail infrastructure and the New Silk Road initiative.
Transport between China and Europe
One of the most important corridors for container transport by rail is the route between China and Europe. This route, also known as the New Silk Road, has seen a dramatic increase in transport volumes in recent years. In 2020, more than 1 million TEUs were transported on this route, an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year.
Czech railways and containers
The Czech Republic is strategically located in Central Europe and its railway network plays a key role in the transit of containers between Western Europe and Asia. Hundreds of thousands of containers are transported on Czech railways every year. In 2019, for example, around 600,000 TEUs were transported on Czech railways, confirming the Czech Republic’s importance in the European logistics chain.
The future of container transport by rail
Container traffic by rail is expected to continue to grow. Investments in modernising rail infrastructure, improving interoperability between different rail systems and increasing terminal capacity are key to sustaining this growth. Furthermore, the increasing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and increase the sustainability of transport will play in favour of rail transport.
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