State Rail Network
Class I Railroads
| BNSF Railway | 1,711 |
| Canadian National | 378 |
| Canadian Pacific Kansas City | 1,702 |
| Union Pacific | 644 |
| Total | 4,435 |
Short Line Railroads
| Cloquet Terminal Railroad | 4 |
| Ellis & Eastern Railroad | 40 |
| Minnesota Commercial Railway | 86 |
| Minnesota Northern Railroad | 192 |
| Minnesota Prairie Line | 94 |
| Total | 1,063 |
Moving Minnesota's Economy. Connecting Communities.
Responsible for over a quarter million Minnesota jobs and $40 billion of the state’s gross domestic product, freight rail plays a huge role in Minnesota’s economic success.
Originating
Received
State Grants
Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program (MRSI)
Rail Heritage
James J. Hill earned the nickname “the Empire Builder” by rescuing a failing Minnesota railroad. He acquired the struggling St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which had opened just 10 miles between St. Paul and St. Anthony, now part of Minneapolis, in 1862, and rebuilt it into the Great Northern Railway, extending rail service across the Northern Plains to the Pacific without federal land grants. By 1920, Minnesota’s rail network had grown to more than nine thousand miles, moving the state’s grain and iron ore to market. That early foundation still shapes Minnesota’s role as a Northern Plains rail gateway today.
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…
Policy Issues Rail Policy Landscape in the 117th Congress
Washington, D.C. — As the 117th Congress dives into its work—and committee assignments and leadership roles have been finalized—we now know more about the key…
Economic Impact Three Reasons to Love America’s Freight Trains
Washington, D.C. — The allure of railroading in America is undeniable. It’s an intrinsic part of our nation’s history and identity—steel wheels on steel rail…
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
Minnesota
Emily Traiforos
State DirectorEmily Traiforos joined GoRail in March 2006 and oversees its operations in the Upper Midwest and Northeast.
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