GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

rail wagon

A rail wagon is a non-powered railway vehicle hauled by a locomotive, designed to carry freight on the rail network.

Quick Answer

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggon

Category

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Reading time

1 min

Words

109

Mentioned in

–

Definition & Explanation

A rail wagon is a non-powered railway vehicle hauled by a locomotive, designed to carry freight on the rail network. The principal types in goods traffic are open wagons for bulk cargo, covered wagons for weather-sensitive loads, tank wagons for liquids and gases, and flat or pocket wagons for intermodal transport of containers and swap bodies. Each wagon carries a standardised UIC vehicle number enabling unambiguous cross-border identification. For shippers and freight forwarders, selecting the right wagon type, respecting maximum payload limits, and confirming network availability are the key practical steps. On international routes, differences in track gauge or national technical standards may call for additional coordination between operators.

Next steps

Tools that match this term

Compare IncotermsClarify duties, cost and riskOpen Check demurrage/detentionCalculate standing charges and free timeOpen Check sea freight costEstimate FCL/LCL costOpen

Related Terms

You might also be interested in these terms

rail wagon logistics

Rail wagon logistics aims to maximize the utilization and operational efficiency of railway wagons through coordinated planning an…

Learn more

Rail Cargo Consolidation

Rail cargo consolidation is used by freight forwarders and railway operators to combine shipments from multiple consignors into sh…

Learn more

Rail ramp

Unlike a mobile loading bridge, a rail ramp is a fixed or semi-permanent structure built into freight yards or intermodal terminal…

Learn more

Load Assignment Systems for Rail Freight

Load assignment systems for rail freight operate fundamentally differently from truck solutions: they must allocate shipments to s…

Learn more

tank wagon

Tank wagons are the standard rail solution for bulk transport of liquids and liquefied gases – from petroleum products and chemica…

Learn more

rail freight transport

Rail freight transport is the movement of goods by railway vehicles across a fixed track network, operated by rail carriers in sin…

Learn more

⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Analyze all 11 Incoterms 2020: cost matrix, risk timeline, insurance gap detector and customs responsibility – free, no login required.

Incoterms Simulator →

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Weekly: Top news, industry facts and insights from the world of logistics – free.

rail wagon

Next steps

Related Terms

rail wagon logistics

Rail Cargo Consolidation

Rail ramp

Load Assignment Systems for Rail Freight

tank wagon

rail freight transport

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Community Questions & Answers