State Rail Network
Class I Railroads
| CSX Transportation | 1,235 |
| Norfolk Southern | 618 |
| Total | 1,853 |
Short Line Railroads
| Appalachian & Ohio Railroad | 158 |
| Empire River Rail | 1 |
| Kanawha River Railroad | 244 |
| Little Kanawha River Rail | 3 |
| R. J. Corman Railroad – West Virginia Line | 16 |
| Total | 505 |
Mountaineer State a Vital Link in North American Rail Network
Although domestic coal consumption has waned, the Mountaineer State remains a -railroad state-.
Originating
Received
State Grants
Transportation Alternatives (TA)
Rail Heritage
Coal camps with names like Cabin Creek and Piney Creek owe their existence to a railroad built by a former Confederate officer. William C. Wickham led the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, formed in 1868 and completed from Covington, Virginia to Huntington, on the Ohio River, in January 1873, pushing a web of branch lines into the mountains that transformed towns like Hinton and Thurmond into hubs of the coal trade. The railroad and the coalfields grew together, each fueling the other’s expansion through the late 1800s. That partnership between rail and coal built the economy of southern West Virginia, and freight railroads still move the state’s coal and natural resources along many of the same routes 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…
3-4x
more fuel efficient
than trucks.
Moving freight by rail instead of trucks reduces greenhouse gas emissions an average of 75 percent.
State Director
West Virginia
Mike Neal
State DirectorAs GoRail’s Midwest State Director, Mike Neal brings more than 15 years of experience across state government, regulatory oversight, political operations, and public affairs.
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