Freight Rail Drives Centennial State Economy
Railroads and Colorado grew up together – literally – as towns, cities and businesses sprouted and thrived along the first railroads. Today, the rail system that was so instrumental in Colorado’s early development has evolved as a prime economic driver in the movement of freight to, from and through the state.
Colorado’s 13 freight railroads operate over 2,427 miles of track and employ 2,348 in the Centennial State.* It would have taken approximately 7.7 million additional truckloads to move the 138.7 million tons of freight that moved by rail in Colorado in 2017. Intermodal and coal comprise the majority of freight rail shipments beginning in Colorado and coal is the largest import to the state.
*2017 data
Infrastructure Alexandria, VA — Railroading is one of America’s oldest and best infrastructure stories, from the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 to the numerous…
Safety Washington, D.C. — During Rail Safety Week, an annual event led by Operation Lifesaver taking place this year from September 21-27, we work to educate…
Infrastructure “Railroading—it’s been around for a long time. We’ve been through a lot and we’ll get through this strong and continue to keep serving for America.”…
Featured Rail Advocates
Colorado
43 percent
decrease
in rail rates, 1981-2014.
That means the average rail customer today can ship nearly twice as much freight for about the same price it paid more than 30 years ago.
Let's Subscribe
Subscribe below to get regular updates from GoRail. For our weekly newsletter, join the GoRail Mail list and for a daily update of what's new. 
