From B&O to BMW, Freight Rail Generates Economic Opportunity in Maryland
The nation’s first common-carrier railroad, the B&O, had its start in downtown Baltimore and was a key to keeping the state competitive in the 19th century. Today, rail investments and innovations have helped the Port of Baltimore set records for the number of intermodal containers and autos to go through the port.
Maryland’s 11 freight railroads operate over 769 miles of track and employ 1,087 in the Old Line State.* It would have taken approximately 4.5 million additional truckloads to move the 80.3 million tons of freight that moved by rail in Maryland in 2017. Intermodal shipments and glass and stone comprise the majority of freight rail shipments beginning in Maryland. Coal is the largest rail import to the state.
*2017 data
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Maryland
43 percent
decrease
in rail rates, 1981-2014.
That means the average rail customer today can ship nearly twice as much freight for about the same price it paid more than 30 years ago.
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