Blue Grass Auto Industry Riding Rail to Success
Kentucky produced more than 1.3 million motor vehicles in 2016, with the Bluegrass State ranking first in the nation on a per capita basis in light vehicle production. Freight railroads play a key role in this success, carrying steel and other inputs to manufacturers and finished autos and auto parts out of Kentucky for distribution.
Kentucky’s 15 freight railroads operate over 2,616 miles of track and employ 2,445 in the Bluegrass State.* It would have taken approximately 10.9 million additional trucks to handle the 197.6 million tons of freight that started, ended, or moved through Kentucky in 2023. Moving freight by rail prevented 3.58 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 702,000 cars off the road or planting 54.2 million trees. Coal makes up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning and ending in the commonwealth.
*2023 data
