Wyoming Energy Powers the Nation Via Freight Rail
As the number one source of coal in the United States and the nation’s ninth-largest natural gas producer, Wyoming relies on railroads to bring in the equipment to harvest energy resources and to export this Cowboy State bounty to the nation and the world. Railroads have churned millions of dollars of private capital into new track, equipment and technology to facilitate energy production and keep Wyoming’s rail network strong, productive and safe.
Wyoming’s six freight railroads operate over 1,860 miles of track and employ 1,534 in the Equality State.* It would have taken approximately 17.5 million additional trucks to handle the 316 million tons of freight that started, ended, or moved through Wyoming in 2023. Moving freight by rail prevented 26 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 5.1 million cars off the road or planting 394.2 million trees. Coal makes up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning and ending in the state.
*2023 data
