In the context of railway operations, what does "intermodal shipping" typically involve?

Intermodal shipping involves the movement of goods using more than one mode of transportation, which allows for greater flexibility and efficiency in transporting cargo. This method can combine various transportation methods such as rail, truck, ship, and air, making it easier to transfer goods from one mode to another without handling the cargo itself.

By utilizing multiple modes, intermodal shipping takes advantage of the strengths of each mode; for example, rail may be used for the long-distance transport of bulk goods due to its efficiency, while trucks can provide the necessary last-mile delivery services. This approach not only optimizes routing and transportation costs but also reduces overall transit times and environmental impact, making it a prevalent choice in logistics and supply chain management.

The other answers reflect narrower transportation methods that do not encompass the multi-modal aspect of intermodal shipping, which is why they do not align with the correct understanding of this term.