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Intermodal transportation involves using more than one form of carrier during a single journey. This method is crucial for moving freight efficiently by placing it into standardized containers.1

Key aspects include:
* Combining transport modes: Highway truck trailers or marine shipping containers are loaded onto railroad flatcars.2
* Efficiency: It combines the long-distance hauling economy of railroads with the flexibility of highway transport for shorter distances.2
* Growth: Intermodal freight has been a significant growth area for rail freight since World War II, particularly in North America and Europe.2
* Containerization: This technique, which became prominent in the 1960s, allows containers to be transferred between trucks, trains, and ships, reducing costs associated with handling uncontainerized cargo.3
* Passenger transport: Some systems also allow for the transport of vehicles, such as cars and trucks, on trains through tunnels.4

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