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[[File:SNIM ore train Nouadhibou.jpg|thumb|300px|Mauritania Railway iron ore train at the station in Nouadhibou.]]

The length of a [[Engineering:Train|train]] may be measured in number of [[Engineering:Railroad car|wagons]] (for bulk loads such as [[Earth:Coal|coal]] and [[Earth:Iron ore|iron ore]]) or in metres for general freight. Train lengths and loads on electrified railways, especially lower voltage 3000 V DC and 1500 V DC, are limited by traction and power considerations. Drawgear and [[Engineering:Railway coupling|couplings]] can also be a limiting factor, along with curves, gradients and crossing loop lengths.

Very long freight trains with a total length of {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} or more are possible with the advent of [[Engineering:Distributed power|distributed power]], or additional locomotive units between or behind long chains of freight cars (referred to as a "consist"). Additional locomotive units enable much longer, heavier loads without the increased risks of derailing that stem from the stress of pulling very long chains of train-cars around curves.

== Bulk  ==
[[File:BHPB long train, Port Hedland, 2012.JPG|thumb|A [[Company:BHP|BHP Billiton Iron Ore]] train with 264 cars heads out of Port Hedland on the Mount Newman railway towards Newman, Western Australia, with lead units at right, and distributed power units at left.<ref>According to count of visible cars in the pic and Google Earth imagery of 2011.</ref>]]
* Australia
**[[Company:BHP|BHP]] iron ore train has typically 268&nbsp;cars and a train weight of 43,000&nbsp;tonnes carrying 24,200&nbsp;tonnes of iron ore, 2.8&nbsp;km long, two SD70ACe locomotives at the head of the train and two remote controlled SD70ACe locomotives as mid-train helpers.<ref>According to count of visible cars in Google Earth imagery of April 2015.</ref> 
*** BHP used to run 44,500-tonne, 336-car long iron ore trains over 3&nbsp;km long, with six to eight locomotives including an intermediate remote unit. This operation seems to have ceased since the trunk line was fully double tracked in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laingorourke.com/our-work/all-projects/bhp-rgp5-railway.aspx|title=BHP RGP5 Railway. Pilbara Region. Australia|access-date=2016-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803181812/http://www.laingorourke.com/our-work/all-projects/bhp-rgp5-railway.aspx|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*** The record-breaking ore train from the same company, 682 cars and 7,300&nbsp;m or 7.3&nbsp;km long, once carried 82,000 metric tons of ore for a total weight of the train, largest in the world, of 99,734 [[Tonne|tonne]]s. It was driven by eight locomotives [[Engineering:Distributed power|distributed along its length]] to keep the [[Engineering:Railway coupling|coupling]] loads and curve performance controllable.<ref>{{cite web|title = BHP breaks its own 'heaviest train' record|url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/bhp-breaks-its-own-39heaviest-train39-record.html|website = Railway Gazette International|accessdate = 2016-01-07|archive-date = 7 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160107175613/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/bhp-breaks-its-own-39heaviest-train39-record.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
**Leigh Creek coal—2.8&nbsp;km, formerly ran as 161 wagons and three locomotives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pomgonewalkabout.com/Page3.htm |title=The longest coal train in the world?|website=Pom Gone Walkabout|accessdate=2010-05-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908081006/http://www.pomgonewalkabout.com/Page3.htm |archivedate=8 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47597445 |title=Leigh Creek Coal Now Major Asset. |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=7 October 1954 |accessdate=3 October 2012 |page=3}}</ref>
** Cane tramway – 75 wagons ({{RailGauge|610mm}} gauge).<ref>Light Railways October 2013, pg 22</ref>
*Brazil
**Carajás Railway {{RailGauge|1600mm}} gauge iron ore trains are typically 330 cars long, totaling 3&nbsp;km in length.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vale.com/pt-br/o-que-fazemos/logistica/ferrovias/estrada-de-ferro-carajas/paginas/default.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706011111/http://www.vale.com/pt-br/o-que-fazemos/logistica/ferrovias/estrada-de-ferro-carajas/paginas/default.aspx|archive-date=6 July 2010|title=Estrada de Ferro Carajás|language=pt}}</ref>
**VLI {{RailGauge|1600mm}} Grain with 160 hopper cars, or 80 hoppers plus 72 FTTs (for pulp transport) totaling about 3.2&nbsp;km (2 miles) long.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oprogressonet.com/geral/vli-comeca-operar-frota-de-locomotivas-da-ferrovia-norte-sul/47105.html|title=VLI começa operar frota de locomotivas da Ferrovia Norte Sul|language=pt|access-date=18 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222165322/http://www.oprogressonet.com/geral/vli-comeca-operar-frota-de-locomotivas-da-ferrovia-norte-sul/47105.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* China
** Datong–Qinhuangdao railway is a dedicated coal-transport railway. Each typical train hauls 20,000 tons of coal using 210 wagons and two HXD1 locomotives, with total length {{Convert|2.614|km|mi|abbr=on}}. <ref>{{cite web|title=2万吨重载！中国最长火车有多难开？全国只有600多人有资格|url=https://tech.ifeng.com/c/8EnbR8ZLo2N|access-date=2022-09-05|date=2022-03-30|publisher=凤凰网|lang=zh}}</ref>
* India
**Indian Railways operated the longest train in India on 15 August 2022. The 'Super Vasuki' freight train was {{Convert|3.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} long had a total of 6 locomotives pulling 295 wagons of coal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://zeenews.india.com/railways/meet-indian-railways-super-vasuki-indias-longest-3-5-km-train-with-6-locos-and-295-wagons-2498063.html |title=Meet Indian Railways' Super Vasuki: India's longest 3.5 km train with 6 Locos and 295 wagons |publisher=zeenews.india.com |date=2022-08-17}}</ref>
*Indonesia (proposed)
**Muara Wahau coal to Bengalon port – 2.196&nbsp;km<ref>Railway Gazette International November 2010, p56</ref>
* Mauritania
** Iron ore trains on the Mauritania Railway are up to 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in length. They consist of 3 or 4 diesel-electric EMD locomotives, 200 to 210 cars each carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore, and 2-3 service cars.
* South Africa
**Sishen–Saldanha railway line ore trains on {{RailGauge|1067mm}} – 4.1&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ihha2011.org/doc-pdf/heavy_haul_operations_south_africa.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.ihha2011.org |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819140347/http://www.ihha2011.org/doc-pdf/heavy_haul_operations_south_africa.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Ukraine
** 12,000 tonnes <ref>[https://en.thepage.ua/economy/ukraines-switch-to-european-railway-gauge Heaviest UA] </ref>

== General  ==
[[File:Caliente California Burlington Northern Santa Fe.JPG|thumb|A BNSF train of loaded well cars (or double-stack cars) at Caliente, California, United States.]]
[[File:CN 2416 GE C40-8M.jpg|thumb|A [[Company:Canadian National Railway|Canadian National Railway]] double-stack container train.]]
* {{convert|14,000|ft|order=flip}} – United States – According to the AAR, approximately 1% of trains run in the US in 2021 and 2022 have lengths over 14,000 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohlhaber |first=Kathy |date=2023-03-14 |title=Freight Train Length |url=https://www.aar.org/article/freight-train-length/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Association of American Railroads |language=en-US}}</ref>
* {{convert|1524|m|ft}} – France – intermediate locomotive – trial<ref>Railway Gazette International May 2014, pg9</ref>
* {{convert|1222|m|ft}} – The Bangalore–Dharmavaram goods train (India)<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=felyEKqUxvE |title=India's longest goods train - 1.2&nbsp;km long - Indian Railways}}</ref>
* {{convert|1000|m|ft}}
** The Netherlands–Germany—trial trains of this length<ref>''Modern Railways'' Jan 2009, p71</ref>
** Saudi Arabia 1000&nbsp;m double stack<ref>''Railway Gazette International'' April 2011</ref>
* {{convert|835|m|ft}} — In Denmark and to Hamburg, Germany; 2 locomotives and 82 waggons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fahrweg.dbnetze.com/fahrweg-de/start/technik/innovationen/2359020/laengere_gueterzuege.html |title=835&nbsp;m lange Güterzüge zwischen Padborg (DK) und Maschen geplant |website=fahrweg.dbnetze.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203033204/http://fahrweg.dbnetze.com/fahrweg-de/start/technik/innovationen/2359020/laengere_gueterzuege.html |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref>''Modern Railways'' November 2012, p78</ref>

== Passenger ==
[[File:Db-403620-00.jpg|thumb|Two DB AG ICE 3 trains combined, on the Fils Valley Railway, near Lonsee, Germany.]]
* Australia – ''[[Engineering:The Ghan|The Ghan]]'', running the 2,979&nbsp;km from Adelaide to Darwin, was lengthened to 44 coaches totalling 1,096 m for nine weeks from May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/news/2016/10/07/all-aboard-the-longest-ghan|date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306090813/https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/news/2016/10/07/all-aboard-the-longest-ghan |archive-date=6 March 2017 |title=All Aboard the Longest Ghan |website=Great Southern Rail}}</ref>
*Canada - ''Canadian'' (Via Rail) runs 4,466&nbsp;km from Toronto to Vancouver and can be as long as 30 cars in the summer months, though more regularly it operates with 18 to 22 cars with up to three F40PH-2D locomotives.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Canadian in N Scale {{!}} Rapido Trains Inc.|url=https://rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/complete-trains/the-canadian|access-date=2021-06-15|website=rapidotrains.com|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417022111/https://rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/complete-trains/the-canadian|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Special test runs ==
These are one-off runs, sometimes specifically to set records.

=== Bulk (ore, coal etc)===
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Company:BHP|BHP]] run on 21 June 2001, comprising 682 wagons and hauled by eight 6000&nbsp;hp General Electric GE AC6000CW diesel-electric locomotives controlled by a single driver with a total length of {{convert|7.352|km|mi|2|abbr=on}} on the {{convert|275|km|mi|2|abbr=on}} iron ore railway to Port Hedland in Western Australia – total weight 99,734 tons on a 1,435 mm gauge line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/hamersley-freight-line/ |title=Hamersley Freight Line |work=ailway Technology |accessdate=2011-10-17 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512100443/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/hamersley-freight-line/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|China}} Datong–Qinhuangdao railway, China. On 2 April 2014, an experimental train ran with 320 wagons and six locos hauling a 31,500 ton load, with a total length of {{Convert|3.971|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=我国铁路成功实现3万吨重载列车试验运行|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-04/08/c_126365538.htm|access-date=2017-02-09|date=2014-04-08|publisher=新华网|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823000000/http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-04/08/c_126365538.htm|archive-date=2014-08-23|lang=zh}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|South Africa}} Sishen–Saldanha, South Africa.  Run on 26–27 August 1989, comprising 660 wagons, {{convert|7.302|km|mi}} long and a total weight of 71,765 tons on a 1,067 mm gauge line. The train comprised 16 locomotives (9 Class 9E 50 kV AC electric and 7 Class 37 diesel-electric).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rra.co.za/?p=7614 |title=Four world rain records shattered by the SA Transport Services (1989) |website=African Rail Industry Association |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911020439/http://www.rra.co.za/?p=7614 |archive-date=2012-09-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite newsgroup |url=http://www.recordholders.org/en/news/news024.html |title=Re: Longest freight train in the U.S. |first=David |last=Forsyth |date=19 December 1996 |newsgroup=misc.transport.rail.americas |access-date=12 December 2008 |archive-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213100918/http://www.recordholders.org/en/news/news024.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Soviet Union}} Bulk coal train from Ekibastuz to the Urals, Soviet Union, 20 February 1986. The train consisted of 439 wagons and several diesel locomotives distributed along the train with a total mass of 43,400 tonnes and a total length of {{convert|6.5|km}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railways.kz/en/node/509 |title=Kazakhstan railways |access-date=10 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110234809/http://www.railways.kz/en/node/509 |archive-date=10 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|UK}} A 1991 test train pulled by two British Rail Class 59 diesel locomotives, weighing 12,108 tonnes and approximately {{convert|1.65|km|mi|2|abbr=on}} long, was pulled with moderate success from Merehead Quarry to Witham Friary.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Peaty |first1=Ian P. |title=Stone by rail |date=2014 |publisher=Silver Link Publishing |location=Kettering |isbn=978-185794-422-8 |pages=132–133}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} Norfolk and Western Railway unit coal train from Iaeger, West Virginia to Portsmouth, Ohio, 15 November 1967. The train consisted of 500 cars and six EMD SD45 diesel-electric locomotives distributed throughout the train for a total weight of 48,170 tons and total length of {{convert|6.5|km}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/norfolksouthern/posts/10155920735527548|title=Norfolk Southern Corp|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref>

=== General cargo ===
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Company:Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]], United States. Run from 8–10 January 2010, consisting of 296 container cars and hauled by nine diesel-electric locomotive spread through the train with a total length of {{convert|18000|ft|mi km}}, from a terminal in {{wipe|Texas}} to Los Angeles.  Around 618 double-stacked containers were carried at speeds up to 70&nbsp;mph/112&nbsp;km/h. 14,059&nbsp;t.<ref name="UP-2009">{{cite news |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/safety-traffic-concerns-raised-when-35mile-freight-train-rolls-through-la-basin.html |title= Safety, traffic concerns raised when 3.5-mile-long freight train rolls through L.A. Basin |newspaper= LA Times |accessdate= 2011-10-17 |archive-date= 14 January 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100114180139/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/safety-traffic-concerns-raised-when-35mile-freight-train-rolls-through-la-basin.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>''Railway Gazette International'' March 2010, p7.</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} BNSF, United States, 10 July 2009—{{convert|3.6|km|mi ft}}, 458 container units powered by seven locomotives<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/2009/08/long-bnsf-trains/ |title=Long BNSF Trains|website=Railways Africa|date=27 August 2009|accessdate=2010-06-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810083629/http://www.railwaysafrica.com/2009/08/long-bnsf-trains/ |archivedate=10 August 2010}}</ref>

=== Passenger ===
* {{flagicon|The Netherlands}} Kijfhoek–Eindhoven, Netherlands. In 1989, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) celebrated their 150th anniversary. On 19 February 1989, NS ran a test train with 60 passenger cars ({{convert|1602|m|ft}} long and weighing 2,597 tons), of which only the first 14 cars held actual passengers, pulled by one 1500 V DC locomotive.<ref name="LRT">{{cite web|url=http://www.feijenoordsemeesters.nl/LRtW/index.html|title=De langste reizigerstrein ter wereld|language=nl|access-date=5 September 2009|archive-date=15 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915180607/http://www.feijenoordsemeesters.nl/LRtW/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Twenty years later, in 2009, Railz Miniworld repeated the stunt on a smaller scale, inside their exhibition in Rotterdam.<ref name="LRT mini">{{cite web|url=http://www.feijenoordsemeesters.nl/LRT_RailZ/LRT_RailZ.htm|title=De langste reizigerstrein ter wereld in Railz Miniworld in Rotterdam|language=nl|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510024729/http://www.feijenoordsemeesters.nl/LRT_RailZ/LRT_RailZ.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} Ghent–Ostend, Belgium. On 27 April 1991, one electric locomotive and 70 passenger cars (totalling {{convert|1733|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} and 2786 tons, excluding the locomotive) held a charity run for the Belgian Cancer Fund, exceeding the Dutch record.<ref name="LRT" />
* {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland. On 29 October 2022, the Rhaetian Railway celebrated the 175th anniversary of Swiss railways with an hour-long, {{convert|25|km|mi|adj=mid}} journey from Preda to Alvaneu in southeast Switzerland. The train had 25 4-car ABe 4/16 "Capricorn" EMUs, totalling 100 coaches with a total length of {{convert|1910|m|ft}}; it ran on a narrow-gauge railway over several switchbacks and long curves.<ref name="Rhaetian Railway">{{cite news|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/swiss-claim-record-for-the-world-s-longest-passenger-train/48015720 |title=Swiss claim record for the world's longest passenger train|work=SwissInfo|language=en|access-date=31 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Ben |date=31 October 2022 |title=Why Switzerland built a 2-kilometer-long train |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/world-record-train-switzerland/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=31 October 2022}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Engineering:Distributed power|Distributed power]]—Where operational considerations or economics require it, trains can be made longer if intermediate locomotives are inserted in the train and remotely controlled from the leading locomotive.
* High-speed rail
* [[Engineering:Track gauge|Track gauge]]
* ''Extreme Trains'' on the History Channel 2009
* List of steepest gradients on adhesion railways
* International Heavy Haul Association
* [[Engineering:Road train#World's longest road trains|Longest road trains]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Longest Trains}}
[[Category:Trains]]

{{Sourceattribution|Longest trains}}