How long does an interline transfer/interchange of an intermodal train take, if the train has, say, 50 cars - including inspection for seal defects, change of crews, etc.?
anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on crew readiness, whether or not power is changed, whether or not seal inspections are done and by who, whether or not brake tests are done (probably so, but not always mandatory), track clearance, dispatchers, etc.
you are some what on track for an intermodle train we i.e. the dispatchers & train crews like to keep them on the move because if the train is early the shipper pays the railroad a bonus for early arival at the terminal if the train is a m or h train it depends weathe or not at the crew change point if they are setting out or picking up a solid cut of cars if the train is to pickup a cut of cars it can take an hour plus to do the initerminal air test on the cut of cars i.e. the set and release of the air breaks and get the paper work for the train for the hazmat placement with in the train just in case of a derailment for emergency service and the dispatcher or yard can hold them up for priority traffic.
Correct, the initial question was referring to an intermodal train of about 50 cars. That’s a stop and go. gdc