{"id":219855,"date":"2025-05-19T17:30:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T07:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=62532"},"modified":"2025-05-19T17:30:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T07:30:10","slug":"new-york-shows-small-distances-can-mean-big-freight-wins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=219855","title":{"rendered":"New York shows small distances can mean big freight wins"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been difficult to make short route freight a commercial proposition in the UK. However, on the unlikely streets of New York City, short-line rail freight is alive and well. It\u2019s not long trains crossing the Great Plains. It\u2019s short, frequent, and efficient rail movements right into the heart of the city.<\/strong>
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The New York and Atlantic Railway (NYA), serving Long Island, is proof that short-haul freight isn\u2019t just viable. It\u2019s vital. This freight railroad, operating on tracks owned by the Long Island Rail Road, delivers everything from lumber to food to building materials across a network with an average journey of just 25 miles.<\/p>\n

New York, new Britain<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a world away from the traditional British rail freight model of long-haul intermodal from port to distribution centre. NYA\u2019s success could serve as a useful lesson for UK operators and policymakers. By focusing on what\u2019s local and essential, the NYA has found sustainable volumes in short distances, avoiding road congestion and reducing emissions. In a bold move, its parent company even developed a rail terminal in Queens, New York, specifically to bypass road freight.<\/p>\n