Mountaineer State a Vital Link in North American Rail Network

Although domestic coal consumption has waned, the Mountaineer State remains a “railroad state.” As intermodal shipments and traffic in other energy products pick up steam, West Virginia is looking to a more diversified freight mix to revive rail traffic and boost the economy.

West Virginia's 11 freight railroads operate over 2,123 miles of track and employ 1,495 in the Mountain State.* It would have taken approximately 2.9 million additional truckloads to move the 52.6 million tons of freight that moved by rail in West Virginia in 2021. Moving freight by rail prevented 3.75 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 735,000 cars off the road or planting 56.8 million trees. Coal makes up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning and ending in West Virginia.

*2021 data

Rail at Work

West Virginia

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Featured Rail Supply Companies

West Virginia

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Genesis Rail Services, Inc.
Gregori Construction
NRCMA
RJ Corman Railroad Group
RCL Services Group
Koppers Inc.

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44 percent
decrease

in rail rates on average from 1981 to today.


That means the average rail customer today can ship significantly more freight for about the same price they paid 40 years ago. 

State Director

West Virginia
Michael Gaynor

Michael Gaynor

Assistant Vice President, Field Operations

Michael Gaynor manages the field staff and operations for GoRail.