Class I railroads are typically known for long-haul transportation of commodities with as few stops in between as possible. Currently, there are six Class I railroads in North America:
- BNSF
- Canadian National Railway
- CPKC
- CSX
- Norfolk Southern
- Union Pacific
Short line and regional railroads extend the reach of a Class I railroad into markets not located directly along Class I routes. They provide a short-haul connection between the Class I and a customer – or the “first and last mile.” Short line and regional railroads often take many smaller customer shipments and group them together on one train, which can lower transportation costs and increase service. To learn more about their role in the North American transportation chain, visit the American Association of Short Line and Regional Railroads website.
G&W currently owns or leases more than 100 short line or regional railroads in the U.S. and Canada.
Customer Success Stories
Tomahawk Railway’s Unique Operation Fulfills Customer Warehousing Needs
Arguably one of the most diverse operations in G&W’s North American footprint, Tomahawk Railway (TR), nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, is a three-pronged business that combines rail, warehousing and a shuttle service that supports the area’s pulp and paper sector. The warehouse, which was constructed in 2005 and has since undergone four expansions, is a 365-day-per-year […]
Kiamichi Railroad Provides Maximum Logistics Flexibility for New Tyson Foods Mega Poultry Feed Mill
On May 10, 2022, the first Kiamichi Railroad (KRR) train arrived at Tyson Foods’ new $65 million “mega” feed mill in McNab, Arkansas – marking the culmination of a multi-year project for both companies.
North Carolina & Virginia Railroad Upgrades Track for 19-Year Customer
Recognizing the value in its 19-year relationship with Nucor, Genesee & Wyoming’s (G&W) North Carolina & Virginia Railroad Company (NCVA) undertook a project to upgrade track for 286,000-lbs. capacity along its 56 miles and increase speeds on a substantial portion of the line.