Freight Rail Facilitates Green Economy in the Beaver State

With about one-third of Oregon’s economy based on goods movement, it is easy to see that freight transportation choices make a big difference to the average Oregonian’s quality of life. Freight rail improves connections for Beaver State businesses, manufacturers and agriculture while also relieving roadway congestion, saving fuel and emitting fewer pollutants.

Oregon's 22 freight railroads operate over 2,369 miles of track and employ 1,337 in the Beaver State.* It would have taken approximately 630,000 additional truckloads to move the 11.3 million tons of freight that moved by rail in Oregon in 2021. Moving freight by rail prevented 2.47 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 485,000 cars off the road or planting 37.5 million trees. Intermodal shipments and lumber and wood products make up the majority of freight rail shipments beginning in Oregon. Intermodal shipments and chemicals are the largest rail imports to the state.

*2021 data

Rail at Work

Oregon

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Featured Rail Advocates

Oregon
Tim Atkinson
Tim Atkinson
President, Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers; Vice President of Sales, Stimson Lumber
Kevin Mannix
Kevin Mannix
President, Oregon Shipping Group; Former Oregon state Senator and Representative

Featured Rail Supply Companies

Oregon

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The Greenbrier Companies
NRCMA
Stella-Jones Inc.
L.B. Foster Company
Koppers Inc.
EVRAZ North America
Amsted Rail

icon_railfreight

44 percent
decrease

in rail rates on average from 1981 to today.


That means the average rail customer today can ship significantly more freight for about the same price they paid 40 years ago. 

State Director

Oregon
Nate Kaplan

Nate Kaplan

State Director

Nate Kaplan has been an active player on the political scene from coast to coast, with a background in local, state and federal elections.