https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport#US_Freight_transport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport... > | transport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport#US_Freight_transport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport... > | transport mode | Fuel consumption | > | ---------------------- | BTU per short ton-mile | kJ per tonne-kilometre | > | Domestic waterborne | 217 | 160 | > | Class 1 railroads | 289 | 209 | > | Heavy trucks | 3,357 | 2,426 | > | Air freight (approx.) | 9,600 | 6,900 | In other words waterborne freight is generally around 25% cheaper energy wise and far easier/cheaper to scale capacity relative to rail. It's also worth looking at some of the other numbers on that page. German numbers work out ocean freight to be over 3x cheaper energywise per tkm relative to rail.