Freight train length is directly related to its performance and safety, including the likelihood of a derailment. Benefits to longer trains include greater efficiency, but is it worth the risk? Freight trains have become much longer than many people realize, creating a complex situation on America’s railways.
The Growing Freight Train Length
Over the past decade, freight train length has increased, with trains extending for well over 100 cars. The Association of American Railroads estimates the median freight train length is 5,400 feet, meaning half of all trains are both longer and shorter than that. Is this median length misleading, though?
The AAR also estimates 99% of trains are under 14,000 feet. That 99th percentile has increased significantly over the past decade — up from about 10,000 feet in 2010. So, about 50% of freight trains are between 5,400 feet and 14,000 feet long. Despite a median length of about 1 mile, 50% of trains are over 1 mile long today.
Average train lengths have steadily increased over recent years due to several factors. Market demand is a major driving force in train length. Longer trains allow freight companies to move more goods simultaneously and with fewer crew members. Long trains can be more cost effective than shipping goods via shorter, faster trains.
Additionally, advances in physics and technology allow rail companies to operate longer trains than possible. For example, high-horsepower engines increase the number of cars a locomotive can pull. Adding additional vibration isolators to trains protects the cargo from vibrations as it travels down the track, reducing shipping damage. New rail designs also help keep long trains on the tracks around risky areas like turns.
Benefits of Longer Freight Trains
The increase in freight train length is not just an industry trend. It is also the source of growing controversy surrounding railway safety. The conversation has gained momentum over recent years in light of numerous rail accidents involving trains over 100 cars long. There are both pros and cons to the trend toward longer trains.
Market demand and efficiency are major factors in the debate surrounding freight train length. Freight companies have to pay attention to customer demand. Today, that means operating longer trains, which results in lower costs. By attaching more cars to a single train, freight companies can transport more goods in fewer trips.
Reducing the number of trains on the rails helps minimize traffic, as well. Long trains might block rail crossings for up to five minutes, but trains pass through those crossings less frequently. Longer freight trains also result in reduced fuel consumption and lower operating costs.
Additionally, freight train length is integral to keeping the rail freight industry competitive. Businesses want to ship goods in the most cost-effective manner possible today. The trucking industry is filling a lot of that demand. If rail freight is going to remain competitive, costs need to be attractive compared to trucking. The efficiency of longer trains allows rail shipping prices to be lower.
Drawbacks of Longer Freight Trains
Unfortunately, the benefits of longer freight trains also have some major drawbacks. On the surface, it can appear that train size is not relevant. However, that is not necessarily the case.
Weight Distribution Issues
The weight distribution of cargo can greatly impact how trains over a mile long move. For example, if the cars in the front of a train are light or empty, the heavier cars in the back squeeze those light cars when the train is going downhill.
This can result in the light cars being forced off the tracks by the weight of the heavier ones behind them. This scenario occurred in the August 2017 derailment of a 2-mile-long CSX freight train in Hyndman, Pennsylvania.
This derailment was followed by similar incidents involving trains over a mile long. For instance, a hazardous accident occurred in 2023 involving a 1.76-mile-long Norfolk Southern freight train. While passing through East Palestine, Ohio, 38 of the train’s cars derailed, including some containing toxic cargo. Residents living in the area surrounding the wreckage were forced to evacuate.
Complicated Train Operation
Weight distribution is not the only factor that makes extreme freight train lengths problematic. Trains stretching well over a mile long can be highly difficult to control — particularly in terrain with many hills. In 2019, a Union Pacific derailment involving a 2.2-mile-long train in Nevada was caused by excessive slack action created by the train’s make up. Parts of the train were going uphill while others were going downhill, ultimately causing a car to pop off the tracks.
Long trains strain the effectiveness of parts and actions that control the train. For example, braking is more complicated with a longer train since more brakes have to trigger and need to stop a much larger mass. When different sections of the train operate in very different terrain — as in the Nevada derailment — driving the vehicle can become more complicated than the train’s crew can manage.
Strained Maintenance Teams
Longer trains make maintenance more challenging to manage — particularly since rail freight companies try to maximize efficiency. The emphasis on efficiency can lead to smaller maintenance teams, and less time for repairs and inspections. As a result, less time and resources are available to cover much longer trains than in the past.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office found a 28% decrease in railroad employees from 2011 to 2021. This means fewer employees are available to operate, maintain and oversee increasingly long trains. Minimizing employee numbers may help cut costs, but it makes thorough maintenance much more complex.
Freight Train Length Legislation
In response to serious rail accidents over recent years, lawmakers are getting involved in the discussion on freight train length. As of 2023, there is no legal limit on how long a freight train can be. However, multiple states are considering freight train length limits, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, where two of the most prominent freight train accidents occurred over the past several years.
A bill currently under consideration in Pennsylvania would cap freight train length at 8,500 feet. The bill would also require every freight train to have at least two crew members on board.
Regulators are also calling for more extensive training for freight train operators. Drivers need specialized skills to operate excessively long trains safely. This is evidenced by recent accidents, such as the 2019 incident in Nevada, where the driver could not handle the complex physics of a 2-mile-long train.
What Is a Safe Freight Train Length?
Freight train length impacts the performance and safety of trains, contributing to mechanical and operational challenges that can cause derailments. While longer trains benefit rail companies, they may not be safer for crews or civilians. If trains well over a mile long are going to continue operating, the rail industry will need to take steps to ensure higher safety standards.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized Magazine, an online publication that explores innovations in science and technology.
Leave a Reply