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Rail Freight

Move containers, pallets, and oversized goods by rail. Reliable schedules, lower emissions, and up to 40% savings compared to long-haul trucking.

Rail Freight

Intermodal rail freight for domestic and cross-border shipping. Lower cost than truck, lower carbon than air. Ideal for bulk, heavy, or non-urgent cargo.

Rail Freight – The Smart Balance of Cost & Transit Time

Rail freight is the unsung hero of logistics. At GHL Xpress, we combine rail with first/last-mile trucking to give you a seamless intermodal solution. Perfect for regular bulk shipments between major cities or cross-border corridors (US–Canada–Mexico, Europe–Asia).

Why Choose GHL Rail Freight

BenefitDescription
🚂 Cost Savings30–40% cheaper than over-the-road trucking for distances over 500 miles.
🌱 Eco-Friendly75% lower CO₂ per ton-mile than trucks.
📆 Schedule ReliabilityTrains run on published timetables – fewer weather delays.
🔐 SecurityReduced handling means lower theft risk.
⚖️ Bulk CapacityShip up to 50,000 lbs in a single rail container.

Rail Freight Options

1. Intermodal (Truck + Rail)

  • GHL picks up your cargo, trucks it to a rail ramp, then arranges final delivery by truck.

  • Ideal for cross-country shipments (e.g., LA to Chicago, New York to Dallas).

  • Transit: 3–7 business days.

2. Carload Freight

  • Your cargo fills an entire railcar (boxcar, flatcar, hopper).

  • Best for: Lumber, steel coils, grain, machinery.

  • Transit: 5–10 days.

3. Cross-Border Rail

  • Seamless customs through partnerships with Canadian National (CN), Union Pacific, and BNSF.

  • Routes: US–Canada, US–Mexico, China–Europe (via rail bridge).

  • Transit: 10–18 days for China–Europe.

4. Temperature-Controlled Rail

  • Refrigerated railcars for produce, meat, pharmaceuticals.

  • Real-time temperature monitoring.

How Rail Freight Works

  1. Tell us your lanes – Origin city and destination city (e.g., Chicago to Seattle).

  2. We design the intermodal route – Truck to rail ramp, then rail, then truck to receiver.

  3. Container drop-off or pickup – We bring an empty container to your dock.

  4. Tracking – You see both truck and rail status in one dashboard.

Why GHL for Rail?

  • Volume Lanes – We contract directly with Class I railroads, so you get below-market rates.

  • Real-time ETAs – We monitor rail status (even delays due to track maintenance).

  • Drayage included – First and last mile trucking at no extra markup.

  • Multimodal expertise – We help you choose rail vs. truck vs. air based on cost vs. speed.

Rail Freight FAQs

Where do you offer rail freight?

North America (US, Canada, Mexico) and Europe–Asia via rail bridge. Contact us for other regions.

No. We supply 20ft or 40ft dry vans, reefers, or open-top containers for a small daily rental fee.

For short distances (<400 miles), truck is faster. For long distances, rail is only 1–2 days slower but much cheaper.

Yes. We provide GPS trackers on all intermodal containers. You’ll see location every hour.