Securing cargo for rail transport using polymer foam material

A method comprising:

• placing a plurality of cargo units in a railcar;
• and
• placing a plurality of cargo restraint panels in the railcar,
• wherein, after placement of the plurality of cargo units and the plurality of cargo restraint panels in the railcar, the plurality of cargo units and the plurality of cargo restraint panels are arranged, in a front to rear direction of the railcar, in alternating groups of one or more cargo units, of the plurality of cargo units, separated by one or more cargo restraint panels, of the plurality of cargo restraint panels, and
• wherein each cargo restraint panel, of the plurality of cargo restraint panels, comprises:
• a foam component having at least one polymer foam sheet, the foam component including a foam component front face, a foam component rear face, and a plurality of foam component side faces, wherein the plurality of foam component side faces are located between the foam component front face and the foam component rear face,
• a first fibrous reinforcing material bonded to and substantially covering the foam component front face and the foam component rear face, and
• a spun-bonded second fibrous material, different from the first fibrous reinforcing material, covering the foam component side faces.