railhead

A railhead is a location on a rail network used for the transfer of goods between rail and other modes of transport or as the starting point for a rail service. In logistics, railheads are commonly intermodal terminals, yards, siding spurs, or points where road traffic can access rail sidings. The term is used worldwide and can refer to both commercial freight facilities and construction or mine operation sites.

As a freight transfer point, a railhead provides access for trucks and other conveyances to load and unload goods onto rail cars or to stage shipments for onward rail movement. Typical facilities include loading ramps or gantries, loading/unloading tracks, weighbridges, depots for containers, and yard trackage for assembling trains. Capacity, scheduling, and interoperability with other rail lines influence efficiency.

In extractive industries and bulk-material handling, the railhead is often located near a mine, quarry, or processing plant. Materials are loaded into railcars at the railhead and then shipped to customers or processing facilities. These railheads may be served by dedicated lines or branch connections to the main network and may feature conveyors, stockpiles, or dedicated unloading equipment.

The exact meaning of railhead varies by region and industry, but the core concept is a point where rail-based freight movement begins or ends, or where rail transfer to other modes occurs.