After NEWOPERA Project the precursor of the European Rail Network for Competitive Freight, TIGER and TIGER DEMO introducing new techniques and technologies for industrializing Rail Freight Transportation to/from the Sea Ports to the inland Dry Ports, the MARATHON Project with its 1500m trains opened up a completely new horizon on European Rail Freight scenario by operating a new generation of longer, faster and heavier trains. The leadership of the MARATHON Project during the various stages of its development, the challenges, the problem solving, the technological achievements, the discoveries up to the train physical testing, delivered emotions and sense of achievement for having proved in a real market environment a technological conquest capable of changing the European rail Freight commercial game. This Hand Book is dedicated to us the MARATHON Project initiator, to all the Project partners and the European Commission for having believed in this innovative and challenging initiative and for bringing it to a positive conclusion. The market exploitation results for Rail Freight will be far reaching contributing to the fulfillment of the EU Commission ambitious European Mobility policies. A special recognition is due to the technology providers for developing the MARATHON Kit, the two equipment locomotive manufacturers and the French partners who were fundamental in organizing the operational theatre for testing these MARATHON trains. The MARATHON trains technological discoveries open up new horizon for Rail Intermodality and Rail Freight in general contributing to keep in EUROPE the Rail Global leadership.