Explore the Rail Corridors

Our nation relies on the rails to move freight. No other form of ground transportation can move the sheer volume of goods and products to the global marketplace. To meet the demand for rail freight, continued expansion of rail networks and services is needed to support economic growth.

Freight rail provides the raw materials and goods that support major U.S. industries, such as manufacturing, retail, agriculture and natural resources, which together account for a majority of the nation’s gross domestic product. Areas served by the Corridors account for over $5.5 trillion of the GDP and over 40 million jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, demand for rail freight service will rise 88% by 2035 from 2002 levels. Rail networks need to keep pace with this demand. Without rail expansion, economic growth will be constrained by an already overloaded highway system.

BNSF’s Corridors of Commerce -- TransCon, Great Northern, and Mid Continent (MidCon) -- represent more than 11,000 miles of the nation’s vast rail network – reaching over 94 million people. These vital routes not only move the freight that Americans need for food, clothing, power and shelter, they also connect the communities they pass through to the global network of trade and commerce.

Doing its part to keep up with increased demand, BNSF is working to enhance service along these Corridors. The company spent more than $24 billion in the past decade on infrastructure improvements across the BNSF system, investing in expanded track, new locomotives, yards, terminals, and technology. However, more investment is needed.

Click the links below to learn more about the benefits of rail, current development projects and future projects.

Livability
Efficient and effective freight rail transportation reduces roadway congestion, harmful emissions, and improves safety for passenger vehicles. A vibrant national rail system paves the way for a healthy flow of commerce, while decreasing carbon emissions and dependence on foreign oil.

Find out how the Corridors of Commerce Improve Lives.

Economic Development
Rail is critical to commerce and the health of local, national, and global markets. No other form of ground transportation can move the sheer volume of goods and products to the global marketplace like freight rail does. Rail fuels economic growth safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally responsible way.

Find out how the Corridors of Commerce Help the Economy.

Public Affordability
Although the public does not contribute directly to the costs of improvements to rail infrastructure, the public benefits greatly. Rail, more than any other mode of ground transportation, provides the most efficient and cost-effective freight service in the world.

Find out how the Corridors of Commerce Benefit Everyone

Corridors of Commerce	Great Northern - Factsheet
MidCon - Factsheet	TransCon - Factsheet