Container trains have become widely used in many places for general freight, particularly in North America, where double stacking reduces costs. Containers can easily be transshipped between other modes, such as ships and trucks, and at breaks of gauge. Containers have succeeded the boxcar (wagon-load), where the cargo had to be loaded and unloaded into the train manually. The intermodal containerization of cargo has revolutionized the supply chain logistics industry, reducing shipping costs significantly. In Europe, the sliding wall wagon has largely superseded the ordinary covered wagons. Other types of cars include refrigerator cars, stock cars for livestock and autoracks for road vehicles. When rail is combined with road transport, a roadrailer will allow trailers to be driven onto the train, allowing for easy transition between road and rail.
cOntaineR trainS HaVe beCOMe wideLY uSed In maNY pLaCes fOr gENeral freighT, PArtIculaRLy iN noRTh amEriCa, wheRE dOUblE stacking RedUCes CostS. conTaiNerS cAn eAsiLY be TRansShipped between OTHeR Modes, SUCh as shipS ANd truckS, And at brEAks of gAUgE. conTainers have suCceedEd the boXCAR (wagon-loaD), whERE thE cARgo haD tO BE LoadEd And unLoadeD into the Train manuaLly. the intermodal ContaineriZatIon of cargo haS revoLutionizeD THe SupPly chain logiStics IndUstRy, rEDuCing sHIppinG cOstS siGnIfiCaNTLy. In eURopE, the slidinG Wall wagon has largELY SuPERseded THE OrdiNarY COVEred wagons. oTher typEs of cars incLudE ReFRigeRator Cars, stoCk cars for LIvesTock and AutoracKS for ROad vehiCLes. wHEn RaIL is CombINed wiTh rOAd TraNSport, a RoaDraiLer wiLL AllOw traiLErS tO bE DriveN oNTO the TRAiN, alloWing foR eAsy tRaNsitIOn between road and rAil.