Freight Rail Ready to Facilitate Future Growth in Montana
With the Treasure State’s population forecast to grow by more than 60 percent between 2005 and 2030, freight transportation demand can be expected to rise sharply. Freight rail already plays a lead role in transporting Montana coal, minerals, ores and grain to global markets and it will continue to be a key tool as the state accommodates future growth.
Montana's eight freight railroads operate over 3,719 miles of track and employ 3,115 in the Treasure State.* It would have taken approximately 6.2 million additional truckloads to move the 110.7 million tons of freight that moved by rail in Montana in 2017. Coal and farm products make up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning in Montana. Petroleum and chemicals are the largest rail imports to the state.
*2017 data
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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.
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