Throughout the US, railroads carry both passengers and freight. Professionals are employed by many of these businesses in a variety of capacities, such as technological, administrative, mechanical, engineering, and train operations roles. If you’re considering a career in railroading, you might be interested in finding out more about the locations and job descriptions of some of the biggest railroad companies in the United States.

This page lists the top six railroad companies in the United States and offers job descriptions for each.

Railroad Companies in US:

People, goods, and products are transported throughout the United States by a number of sizable railroad companies. These companies employ people to work as crew operators, dispatchers, engineers, mechanics, accountants, and in almost all 50 states. Here are six American railroad companies where you can find employments.

BNSF Railway:

35,000–40,000 workers; Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas; Operating in 28 states; History: Over 170 years; Merged with Burlington Northern Inc. and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation in 1995 to become BNSF Railway, one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States with 32,500 route miles in more than 24 states.

In 2010, the business was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway. The western two thirds of the nation are served by the BNSF railroad company, which transports consumer, industrial, and agricultural goods. The corporation operates numerous locations around the United States, such as dispatching centers, maintenance facilities, and train terminals.

To maintain its vast rail network, BNSF Railway employs experts for a range of roles. These railroad companies have a number of departments, including train crews, mechanical and electrical engineers, field operations, IT services, and dispatching. For full-time hourly workers as well as salaried staff, the corporation provides medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Contributions are matched up to 6% by the employer in the employee’s retirement savings plan. Other advantages that certain employees are also qualified for include college scholarship programs for their kids, adoption support, and tuition reimbursement.

Union Pacific:

Office locations: operating in 23 states, with its headquarters located in Omaha, Nebraska
Number of workers: 30,000–35,000, With 32,000 route miles, Union Pacific is a rail network that links 23 states. It was established in 1862 and combined with Southern Pacific in 1996 to grow to become one of the biggest railroads in the nation. Consumer items, chemicals, vehicles, metals, and agricultural products are among the many goods it transports.
West of Chicago and New Orleans, the train runs through almost all of the states. This railroad company among other railroad companies is also connected to the rail networks of Mexico and Canada. Union Pacific operates in numerous states, many of which have dozens of yards and train terminals.

For those interested in pursuing careers in railroad operations or support roles, the organization offers a multitude of options. Engineers are hired to design the railroad’s infrastructure, including tracks, signals, and bridges, while technicians are hired to install, maintain, and repair communication systems.
Rail electricians, mechanics, supply chain managers, systems engineers, accountants, and human resources specialists are among the other positions that Union Pacific has open.

These railroad companies provide management training programs to people who want to lead teams in mechanical, electrical, or engineering work. Benefits offered by Union Pacific to qualified workers include retirement plans, wellness initiatives, and insurance for health, dental, and vision care.

CSX Transportation:

Workplace locations: operates in 23 states and has its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida
Number of employees: 20,000–25,000.
CSX Transportation is a rail-based transportation company that transports intermodal containers and trailers over 20,000 track miles. Chassis System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries merged to form CSX Corporation in 1980, and in 1987 the company started functioning as CSX Transportation.

Major population centers in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest are served by this railroad company. Additionally, it runs more than 50 rail yards and terminals, which act as links for staff to unload cargo and steer fresh trains heading out. 230 regional railroads are connected to CSX Transportation’s thousands of production and distribution sites.

Professionals in a range of fields, including technology, transportation, engineering, mechanical, and clerical, might find employment with the organization. For instance, the organization employs engineers to maintain tracks and bridges, IT specialists to help with application development and end-user services, and crew dispatchers to allocate train crews for operations.
Benefits schemes that can be customized by eligible employees include retirement savings plans, wellness initiatives, and insurance for prescription drugs, health, dental, and vision care.

Norfolk Southern Railway:

Office locations: operating in 22 states, with its headquarters located in Atlanta.
Number of workers: 20,000–25,000, Located across 22 states and the District of Columbia, Norfolk Southern Railroad companies cover 19,300 route miles. The company was established in 1980 and for a long time had its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. However, in 2018, it made the announcement that it will be moving to Atlanta. It supplies important ports in the United States’ East, Gulf, and Great Lakes regions.

The bulk of the cargo carried by the railroad is industrial, encompassing commodities from agricultural, forestry, and consumer goods to chemicals, metals, and building supplies. Automobile parts and coal are also carried by it. In addition to several railroad yards and maintenance facilities, the corporation has more than 400 warehouses and distribution hubs. Insurance, strategies for retirement savings, and initiatives for wellbeing.

A large number of workers at Norfolk Southern Railway are hourly field operations personnel, like mechanics and dispatchers. These railroad companies also employ a variety of additional experts, including IT specialists, lawyers, accountants, and internal auditors. Atlanta or Norfolk are the locations of the majority of these jobs.
A comprehensive benefits package comprising medical, dental, and vision care, retirement savings programs, pension plan, paid parental leave, and wellness program is provided to a large number of

employees. To help professionals become ready for management or supervisory positions, the organization also provides management training courses.

Kansas City Southern Railway:

Office locations: operating in ten states, with its headquarters located in Kansas City, Missouri
Number of workers: 5,000–10,000.
The Kansas City Southern Railway offers cross-border freight into Mexico in addition to its 3,400 route miles in the Midwest and Southeast. Despite being in talks to join the Canadian Pacific Railway, the firm, which was founded in 1887, has never merged with another railroad. Apart from its rail network, the corporation manages intermodal facilities throughout multiple states. Among the many industries it transports freight for are agriculture, automotive, appliances, food products, chemicals, metals, military, machinery, and industrial goods.

These railroad companies employ experts in mechanical, IT, accounting and financial, engineering, transportation, and logistics roles. Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas are among the states where these jobs are open.

These benefits include life insurance, flexible spending accounts, health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability plans and retirement savings plans, which include railroad worker retirement benefits for those employed by American railroads. In addition, the organization provides professional development and continuing education courses for individuals seeking to advance their technical, leadership, or job-specific abilities.

Amtrak:

Office locations: operating in 46 states, with its headquarters located in Washington, D.C.
Number of workers: 20,000–25,000.
Amtrak is a national passenger train service that travels 21,400 route miles throughout three Canadian provinces, 46 states, and the District of Columbia as well as trailers. Since the company collaborates with other railroads to use their tracks for operations, the majority of its route miles are along host tracks.
After Congress decided to take over the majority of privately owned passenger railroad companies, the business was founded in 1970. Even though Amtrak is a for-profit business, the federal government owns the majority of its shares.

Professionals from a range of industries, including train operations, customer service, skilled trades, engineering, mechanical, and information technology, are employed by Amtrak. In order to run routes safely and station service personnel to give customers first-rate customer care while they are traveling, the company employs conductors. Many engineers and mechanics work for Amtrak, designing, running, and maintaining trains and passenger cars.

These railroad companies provide medical, dental, and vision plans, retirement savings choices, and assistance with education as part of its benefits packages for staff members. Employees may also be eligible for extra perks like free entry to museums, movie theaters, and athletic events.
It functions as a profit-making enterprise.

FAQS:

How many railroad companies are there in USA?

Over 500 short line and regional railroads (Class II & Class III) and seven large railroads (Class I railroads) make up the United States railroad industry. For shippers looking for a cost-effective long-distance shipping option, these lines are essential. Take a look at our interactive maps below.

Who runs railroad companies in US?

The Consolidated Rail Corporation was founded by the federal government, and Amtrak utilizes public monies to finance privately owned intercity passenger trains, but otherwise American railways are privately owned and run.

Which is the largest company among railroad companies?

The largest railroad in North America, Union Pacific serves 23 states in the western two thirds of the country.

Who is the biggest train manufacture?

Limited by CRRC Corporation,
With an expected revenue of 15.05 billion euros, the Chinese company CRRC Corporation Limited was by far the biggest manufacturer of rolling stock in 2020.

How big is the US railroad companies?

The rail transportation industry’s market size was $107.8 billion in revenue in 2023. In 2023, what was the US rail transportation industry’s rate of growth? The rail transportation sector’s market size shrank by -4.3% in 2023.

Conclusion:

The main use of rail transportation in the United States is for the transfer of freight via a well-connected network of private freight railroads operating in standard gauge, which also reaches into Canada and Mexico. With a network of around 160,000 miles (260,000 km), the United States boasts the world’s largest rail system.

With commuter train available in most major American cities, particularly on the East Coast, passenger service provides an alternative for Americans using mass transit Previously a vital and essential part of the nation’s passenger transportation system, intercity passenger service began to wane in the 20th century as commercial aviation and the Interstate Highway System made cross-country road and commercial aviation travel possible.

These are the top railroad companies in US. In case of any issue contact us through our link on website. I hope it will beneficial for you. Thanks.