Pine Tree State Prioritizes Rail Investment
Paper production remains an important part of Maine’s economy and the Pine Tree State has made a priority of improving the capacity of the rail system to link paper producers to national and international markets. Utilizing public private partnerships, Maine continues to work to expand rail service to boost local manufacturing and provide a viable alternative to over-the-road trucking.
Maine's nine freight railroads operate over 1,011 miles of track and employ 419 in the Pine Tree State.* It would have taken approximately 205,000 additional trucks to handle the 3.7 million tons of freight that started, ended, or moved through Maine in 2023. Moving freight by rail prevented 303,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 59,000 cars off the road or planting 4.59 million trees. Pulp and paper make up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning in Maine. Petroleum products and glass and stone are the largest rail imports to the state.
*2023 data
