What makes freight railroads highly successful in the U.S.

While the U.S. falls behind in passenger trains, it excels in freight rail with a network spanning over 140,000 miles and handling one-third of U.S. exports and 40% of long-distance freight volume.

Trains are increasingly being used to transport consumer goods, in addition to competing with the trucking industry for moving goods around the country.

The seven major freight railroads in North America are dominated by BNSF on the west coast, while CSX and Norfolk Southern are the primary operators on the east coast. Union Pacific, Genesee & Wyoming, and Kansas City Southern run routes north and south. Amtrak, the United States' passenger service, owns only 3% of the country's rail.

In 2019, the five largest U.S. railroads generated over $71 billion in operating revenue.

The rail industry has faced numerous challenges, including bankruptcies, declining demand for coal, supply chain disruptions, and rising thefts. Additionally, the seven largest railroads have been criticized for their dominance in the industry.

To learn how freight railroads became profitable and how the industry plans to evolve, watch the video.