1. Goals for freight transport: More trucks on the railways
2. An explanation of terms used for freight trains
   1. Block trains, also known as unit trains
   2. Single wagon transport
3. Brief project description
4. Feasibility study: Iron Rhine 5.0
5.  A glimpse into the future is already available
6.  TEN-T project application from 2023

The aim is to make truck transport by rail faster, more efficient and more economical than by road. Digital and autonomous freight trains operating as single cars should be able to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. State-of-the-art automated train formation systems reduce the dwell time of wagons to around 30 minutes.
These innovations make it possible to significantly reduce the use of climate-damaging lorries – a clear economic advantage for companies due to lower transport costs, travel times and more reliable logistics. At the same time, working conditions for drivers are improved as their work becomes less stressful.
Another advantage is that freight transport is now becoming more climate-friendly. Significantly fewer pollutants are emitted, despite the considerable investment required for the new infrastructure, which does not, however, seal any new land.
More technology leads to more climate protection.

It will be difficult to implement such ideas, as changes in the transport sector in particular,
or, as in this case, a revolution, are becoming increasingly difficult,

even though it would bring great benefits for everyone, including economic ones. 

The solutions proposed here are not limited to this project;
they can be implemented anywhere in the world.

(This may only apply in Germany)

Wikipedia writes

is a goods train that runs from the origin to the destination station as a unit (same wagon types, same consignor and consignee), possibly with organisational or operational intermediate stops. This makes block train transport faster and more cost-effective than single-wagon transport. The railway can thus express its system advantages in comparison to lorries and partly also to inland waterway vessels.

Block train transport is not considered here, as no major improvements are possible here.

Wikipedia writes about this:

This type of transport is named after the fact that single wagonload goods trains are made up of freight wagons from different consignors and consignees. The transport from one consignor to one consignee therefore requires that the individual wagons or groups of wagons are transported with the help of different trains and are regrouped between them with the help of shunting manoeuvres, especially in marshalling yards (train formation facilities). Freight wagons are picked up in sidings, freight yards or loading sidings. If loads of several consignors or consignees are transported within one wagon, single wagon traffic is part of general cargo traffic.

Single wagon operation is considered because there are many possibilities for improvement here.

Freight transport still involves a great deal of manual labour, considerable physical effort and risks in many areas. This applies equally to rail freight transport and truck transport.

Here, we are using the solutions that have already been implemented and combining them all. Hence the version 5.0.

•     New freight trains that correspond to ICEs, TGVs, etc., i.e. for speeds of up to 300 km/h.
•     New freight wagons that enable fast loading and unloading of trucks via the front ends.
•     New digital freight wagons, remote-controlled, self-driving (approx. 50 km), flexible for everyone to use.
•     New fully automatic freight stations that enable fast loading and unloading of trucks, with transfer tables,
•     New train formation facilities that enable fast distribution of wagons to new trains,
•     New train technologies, European Train Control System (ETCS), which enables fast and safe train succession,
•     Use of level 2 above already sealed surfaces such as railway tracks and motorways, etc.,
•     Use of autonomous couplings for trucks, semi-trailers and trailers,
•     Autonomous driving in industrial areas, by separating pedestrian and bicycle traffic from motorised traffic,
•     Use of cable car technology for trucks for autonomous driving.

If you find any errors, we are grateful for any advice.