Freight transportation system and method

According to one embodiment of the invention, a freight transportation system includes a track comprising a pair of rails (504) and a linear motor reaction plate (506) disposed between the rails and a transport vehicle having a universal intermodal container bay configured to accommodate a plurality of containers. The transport vehicle (400) includes one or more suspension systems each having a plurality of steel wheels (407) engaged with the rails. The freight transportation system further includes a linear induction propulsion system (408) coupled to the transport vehicle and operable to work in conjunction with the linear motor reaction plate to move the transport vehicle, and a control system (700) coupled to the linear induction propulsion system and operable to control the movement of the transport vehicle.