Home / America's Railroads / Industry Facts
America’s future depends on efficient, environmentally sound freight railroads — freight railroads literally keep America's economy moving.
With a network that spans more than 140,000 route miles, America's freight railroads move almost 12 million trailers and containers each year, serving every major U.S. port and metropolitan area in the nation. Railroads move 40 percent of the nation's freight - more goods than any other mode of ground transportation and at a better price. Since 1981, average rail rates have dropped by half, resulting in real savings for consumers. In fact, if all freight moving by rail were shifted to truck, consumers would see their costs jump by almost $70 billion a year, according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officers (AASHTO).
The economic benefits of rail don't stop there. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, every $1 invested in rail infrastructure yields a $3 return of investment in total economic output. Railroads continually invest billions of dollars each year to maintain and revitalize their networks - $10 billion in 2008 alone.
As the most fuel-efficient form of ground transportation, freight rail also saves energy. A train can move a ton of freight an average of 436 miles per gallon of fuel — more than three times as far as it could move on a truck. If 10 percent of the long-haul freight that now moves over the highway were moved by rail, fuel savings would exceed 1 billion gallons each year.
In a tough economic environment, railroads continue to provide the most cost-effective and efficient way to ship goods. The freight rail industry contributes to the competitive advantage American products have in the global marketplace, and the low cost that Americans pay for goods at home. Utilizing its resources and making smart, long-term investments have allowed our nation's railroads to meet the country's needs today, with the promise of having an even more positive impact tomorrow.
*Unless otherwise noted, all facts from the Association of American Railroads
Railroad Fact
Railroad Facts Temporarily Unavailable.