GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
rail siding
A rail siding is a private track branching off the public railway network and running directly onto an industrial or logistics site, so that freight wagons can be loaded and unloaded on-site without any road haulage for the first or last mile.
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Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anschlussgleis
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Definition & Explanation
A rail siding is a private track branching off the public railway network and running directly onto an industrial or logistics site, so that freight wagons can be loaded and unloaded on-site without any road haulage for the first or last mile. For high-volume shippers, this cuts transport costs significantly, reduces truck movements, and shortens the overall supply chain. Rail sidings are typically found at steelworks, grain silos, power plants, container terminals, and large distribution centres. Operating one requires a formal access agreement with the infrastructure manager and compliance with railway safety regulations. It differs from a passing loop or marshalling track, which serve purely operational railway purposes.
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