Oil, natural gas, and coal dominate US rail transportation

Rail freight is the backbone of US infrastructuremoving millions of tons of miscellaneous materials and linking the nation’s many ports and cities to facilitate domestic and international trade.

But what material moved the most by US rail in 2023?

For this graph, Visual Capitalist collaborated with The Greenbrier Companies to answer that question and dive into what makes rail vital to the US economy.

What moves American rail freight?

Versatility is one of the rail’s greatest strengths. In 2023, rail freight transport almost 1.8 million metric tons from a wide variety of materials around the countries 140,000 mile rail network – everything from wood and chemicals to vehicle parts and waste.

However, energy products, particularly coal, oil and natural gas, were the most common materials moved.

Methodology: Categories provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics have been condensed and simplified. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. The “other” category includes, but is not limited to, electronics, precision instruments, and miscellaneous transportation.

Why choose Rail?

Rail is an incredibly versatile mode of transportation, facilitating a wide range of industries and the US economy as a whole, among many other reasons, by acting as a link between trucking and shipping.

However, the railway’s history of safety and durability makes it stand out.

right Federal Railroad Administrationrail accident rates have fallen by 27%, and rail accidents involving hazardous materials have fallen by 75% since 2000.

Also, rail transport contributes only 1.8% of US greenhouse gas transportation, despite carrying 40% of all long-distance freight. Rail can do this because it is a very fuel efficient form of transport and is becoming more efficient every year.

In fact, in 2023, US rail transport consumed 709 million less gallons of fuel than in 2000.

Moving what matters

Railroads are essential in supporting many U.S. industries by transporting various materials within the nation, connecting to ports, and facilitating international trade.

With more than 120 years of history, Greenbrier Companies has become a global leader in freight services, maintenance and railcar parts, enabling rail transportation to keep the economy moving.

By Zerohedge.com

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