Short Line Freight Rail — a Critical Provider of Cost-Effective Transportation

[Posted to Politics May 10, 2017 by Jo E. Strang]

“While many may think of major freight carriers like BNSF or Norfolk Southern, or passenger railroads like Amtrak, when thinking of railroads, there is another critical piece of the puzzle: short line railroads.”

“The nation’s 602 short lines, operating 47,500 miles, or 29 percent of freight rail, provide the first and last mile service for one in four cars moving each year. For large areas of rural and small-town America, short line and regional railroads are the only way shippers can stay connected to the national network, helping business and employment stay local.”

“They also help avert costs to the nation’s deteriorating highway infrastructure — a key policy priority in Washington right now. Estimates indicate that one railcar provides the equivalent of three trucks. Beyond the wear and tear, and the accident risk avoided, shipping by rail conserves approximately 93.3 million gallons of fuel per year.”

The complete article is available here.