Being wholly committed to the economic development of North Carolina, our NCRR Invests program evaluates opportunities to invest in freight rail infrastructure needs.
North Carolina’s freight rail network boasts more than 3,200 miles of railroad, owned by two Class I railroads and 19 short lines.
North American Market Access Through Class I Railroads:
Two Class I railroad companies, CSX and Norfolk Southern offer direct access to North America’s massive intercity rail network and together, operate three-fourths of N.C.’s track.
Port And Intermodal Access:
Both Norfolk Southern and CSX offer direct service to the major ports located along the eastern seaboard as well as intermodal container service for N.C. companies through their respective hubs in Charlotte (NS, CSX) and Greensboro (NS).
Regional Railroad Connections To Class I Railroads:
North Carolina is also home to 19 short lines, or regional railroads. Short line railroads offer rail shipping opportunities and large market connections to businesses and local producers without access to a Class I line by feeding traffic to and receiving traffic from the Class I railroads for final delivery. Short lines can provide essential service advantages for the “first and last mile” where it may sometimes be operationally challenging for a Class I provider.
Six of North Carolina’s regional railroads offer direct connections to both of the Class I rail service providers in N.C. (CSX and NS).
