# Rail tariff

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> A rail tariff is the published or negotiated rate schedule of a railway undertaking that sets the legally binding freight charges for a given route or service.

A rail tariff is the published or negotiated rate schedule of a railway undertaking that sets the legally binding freight charges for a given route or service. It covers base rates—commonly expressed per tonne-kilometre or as a flat charge per route—alongside accessorial charges such as pickup, delivery, and storage, as well as surcharges for wagon type, dangerous goods class, or peak periods. General conditions of carriage embedded in the tariff define liability limits, transit time commitments, and claims procedures. In liberalised rail freight markets, publicly available tariffs have largely given way to individually negotiated framework contracts, but the tariff principle—a structured, documented rate basis—remains the legal foundation of every rail freight agreement and the starting point for cost calculations by freight forwarders.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariff)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Rail tariff |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 122 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariff |

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