Railways play a key role in American transportation and commerce, moving 28% of U.S. goods and tens of thousands of people across the country every day. The United States boasts 140,000 miles of freight rail lines underpinning an $80 billion industry that employs roughly 167,000 people. Meanwhile, Amtrak, the primary provider of U.S. passenger rail connecting people across rural and urban America, reported record ridership in fiscal year 2024 with 32.8 million passengers. From the crucial Northeast passenger rail corridor to the nation’s largest freight hub in Chicago, rail has the potential to play a key role in a decarbonized transportation sector by displacing emissions from cars, trucks, and planes.

This Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) briefing will explore the past, current, and future role of rail in the U.S. transportation sector and highlight key rail programs under the surface transportation bill. Speakers will also describe opportunities to modernize railways through electrification, faster trains, track expansion, and safety improvements.