State Rail Network

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Class I Railroads

CSX Transportation 1,062
Norfolk Southern 1,121
Total 2,183

Short Line Railroads

Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad 47
Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway 150
Alexander Railroad 20
Atlantic & Western Railway 60
Atlantic Railways 11
Total 1,031
2022 Source: Association of American Railroads (AAR). Data represents most recent available annual reporting. AAR Logo

Moving North Carolina's Economy. Connecting Communities.

Freight rail connects the Tar Heel State’s ports, power plants, farms, mines and manufacturers to markets across the nation and worldwide.

Originating

Top Commodities Originating
Crushed Stone & Sand 3.1M Tons | 27.6K Cars
Chemicals 3.1M Tons | 31.6K Cars
Intermodal 2.6M Tons | 192K Cars
Lumber & Wood Products 1.2M Tons | 13.1K Cars
Waste & Scrap 0.9M Tons | 10.1K Cars
Other 3.6M Tons | 45.6K Cars
320K Total Cars
14.5M Total Tons

Received

Top Commodities Received / Terminated
Chemicals 6.7M Tons | 68.6K Cars
Grain 6.4M Tons | 59.9K Cars
Coal 5.8M Tons | 49.8K Cars
Food Products 3.9M Tons | 38.7K Cars
Nonmetallic Minerals 3.8M Tons | 35.1K Cars
Other 11.3M Tons | 307.7K Cars
559.8K Total Cars
37.9M Total Tons
NORTH CAROLINA'S

State Grants

Strategic Transportation Investments

Infrastructure

Join the movement in support of freight rail in your state and across North America.

Why Freight Rail Matters

Supports Manufacturing Icon

Supports Manufacturing

Rail connects manufacturers with suppliers and customers across North America, efficiently moving raw materials and finished goods.

Strengthens Agriculture Icon

Strengthens Agriculture

Rail helps move crops, forest products, fertilizers and other agricultural goods efficiently and affordably.

Reduces Congestion Icon

Reduces Congestion

Moving freight by rail removes trucks from highways, helping reduce traffic and wear on road infrastructure.

Protects the Environment Icon

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

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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…

Funding Opportunities

These Three States Are Prioritizing Freight Rail

Washington, DC — States across the nation are recognizing freight rail as a core economic strategy by supporting their own grant programs to supplement federal grants and railroads’ private investments. Recent funding moves in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New…

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…

Featured Rail Supply Companies

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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

North Carolina
Christy Sammon

Christy Sammon

State Director

Christy Sammon joined GoRail in May 2015. She has over 15 years of experience in the governmental relations field.

Get to know Christy