# freight car

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Freight cars – called wagons or goods wagons outside North America – are the unpowered load-carrying units of rail freight, hauled individually or assembled into trains of a hundred or more vehicles.

Freight cars – called wagons or goods wagons outside North America – are the unpowered load-carrying units of rail freight, hauled individually or assembled into trains of a hundred or more vehicles. Each wagon type is purpose-built for its cargo: open hoppers for bulk minerals and coal, tank cars for liquids and gases, boxcars for general and weather-sensitive goods, flatcars for containers and heavy lifts. Ownership rests with railway undertakings, private wagon keepers, or shipper pools; cross-border operations are governed by harmonised technical and safety standards. The freight car itself provides no traction – that is the exclusive role of the locomotive.

**Source:** [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCterwagen](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCterwagen)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | freight car |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 102 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCterwagen |

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