Founded in 2004 on the principle that “all politics is local,” we believe that direct input from constituents is the best way to communicate with elected officials. GoRail works with thousands of community leaders across the country to tell the local story of freight rail — stronger economies, more jobs and cleaner skies.

Many Americans don’t realize that freight railroads pay their own way with little help from taxpayers — to the tune of $25 billion annually, on average. These investments make American industry more competitive by maintaining and enhancing the rail network that connects companies and communities to markets all over the world.

Working with the support of U.S. freight railroads and rail supply companies, our coalition of community leaders reminds Congress how freight rail investments and rail policy decisions have real impacts back home, from local jobs and economic development to air quality and road congestion.

Download the GoRail overview.

Rail Advocates

FEATURED GORAIL SUPPORTERS

GoRail’s rail advocates are community leaders from every region of the country who recognize that rail policy decisions made in Washington, D.C. have real impacts back home. Meet them and learn more about the ways freight rail has benefited their communities.

Snapshot

Rail Advocate
Gurbax Sahota
Gurbax Sahota
President & CEO, California Association for Local Economic Development; Executive Director, California Academy for Economic Development
Sacramento, California

"Infrastructure is the keystone of economic development and freight rail delivers for California."

John Casper
John Casper
President & CEO, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

"Rail has long been the driving force of the Fox River Valley’s economy."

Railroads

North America’s six Class I railroads operate in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Accounting for 68 percent of the industry’s mileage and 88 percent of its employees, these railroads focus on long-haul, high-density intercity traffic.

Rail Supply Companies

Featured GoRail Supporters
Cranemasters, Inc.
Ames Construction
Amsted Rail
American Concrete Products Co.
EVRAZ North America
Herzog Companies
Holland LP
Hulcher Services Inc.
Koppers Inc.
L.B. Foster Company
Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
New York Air Brake
Polivka International
Progress Rail Services
RailWorks Corporation
RCL Services Group
REMSA
RJ Corman Railroad Group
Siemens Rail Automation Corporation
Special Fleet Service, Inc.
Steel Dynamics, Inc. Structural & Rail Division
Stella-Jones Inc.
Strato, Inc.
TTX Company
Wabtec Corporation
Amerities Holdings LLC
Jay-Reese Contractors, Inc.
Anderzack-Pitzen Construction, Inc.
The Okonite Company
Ferrovia, LLC
Somerville Companies
GATX
Alstom
NRCMA
ARI
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc.
Omaha Track
Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc.
SEMA Construction
Timken
Trinity Rail
AECOM
Direct Chassis Link
Gregori Construction
Genesis Rail Services, Inc.
The Greenbrier Companies
API Global Solutions
K-Five Construction Corporation
RMS Intermodal
Shift5
Parsec, Inc.
PS Technology
Russ McGurk
Russ McGurk
President

Russ McGurk co-founded GoRail, then Growth Options for the 21st Century, in 2004 and helped develop the original strategic plan and core mission that have made GoRail pound-for-pound one of Washington’s most effective grassroots issue advocacy organizations.

Michael Gaynor
Michael Gaynor
Assistant Vice President, Field Operations

Michael Gaynor manages the field staff and operations for GoRail. He brings two decades of political experience to his position, having served as a congressional staffer, political consultant, and public relations director to a national non-profit.

Betsy Cantwell
Betsy Cantwell
Assistant Vice President, Communications

Betsy Cantwell leads communications strategy and activities, including earned, digital, and social media. One of her goals is to enhance and marry GoRail's digital advocacy with its grassroots organizing.

Board of Directors

Russell McGurk
President
GoRail

Ian Jefferies
President & Chief Executive Officer
Association of American Railroads

Wendy Whalen
AVP Supply Chain Procurement and Performance
Union Pacific Railroad

Michael Smythers
VP Federal Government Affairs
BNSF Railway

Arielle Giordano
AVP, US Government Affairs
CPKC

Spence Glotzbach
Head of Procurement
CSX Transportation

Jackie Corletto
AVP, Sourcing
Norfolk Southern Corporation

David Woodruff
AVP, Head of Public and Government Affairs U.S.
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