State Rail Network
Class I Railroads
| CSX Transportation | 42 |
| Norfolk Southern | 82 |
| Total | 124 |
Short Line Railroads
| Conrail | 1 |
| Delmarva Central Railroad | 138 |
| East Penn Railroad | 9 |
| Maryland & Delaware Railroad | 14 |
| Total | 162 |
Moving Delaware's Economy. Connecting Communities.
With freight volumes increasing, highway congestion getting worse and not enough tax dollars to keep up with First State roadway repair needs, the benefits of shipping cargo by rail rather than road are clear.
Originating
Received
State Grants
Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIIF)
Rail Heritage
New Castle’s merchants had one goal when they built Delaware’s first railroad in 1832: beat the newly opened Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad ran about sixteen miles between the Delaware River and the Chesapeake Bay, standing today as one of the first railroads built anywhere in the country. The line began with horse-drawn cars before switching to steam locomotives within a year, and it later became part of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. That early crossing of the peninsula previewed the role Delaware’s rail corridors still play today, linking the mid-Atlantic’s ports and industries.
Why Freight Rail Matters
Supports Manufacturing
Rail connects manufacturers with suppliers and customers across North America, efficiently moving raw materials and finished goods.
Strengthens Agriculture
Rail helps move crops, forest products, fertilizers and other agricultural goods efficiently and affordably.
Reduces Congestion
Moving freight by rail removes trucks from highways, helping reduce traffic and wear on road infrastructure.
Protects the Environment
Freight rail is significantly more fuel efficient than moving freight by truck, helping reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Rail at Work
Safety FRA Data Shows Major Rail Safety Gains in 2025
Washington, D.C. – New data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) shows 2025 was a historic year for freight rail safety. Accident and injury rates…
Advocacy Delaware Delegation Highlights Freight Rail’s Local Impact
HARRINGTON, DELAWARE – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons, along with U.S. Representative Sarah McBride, toured the Delmarva Central Railroad (DCR) facility in…
Agriculture Senator Tom Carper Tours Delmarva Central Railroad
Environment and Public Works Committee Chair visits Delmarva Central Railroad’s Seaford transload facility and swing bridge in Sussex County. Seaford, Delaware — U.S. Senator Tom…
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
Delaware
Christy Sammon
State DirectorChristy Sammon joined GoRail in May 2015. She has over 15 years of experience in the governmental relations field.
Featured Rail Supply Companies
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