Association of American Railroads

Association of American Railroads

Association of American Railroads

Freight Rail in Minnesota

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Key Facts

  • Freight Railroad Employees: 3,652
  • Freight Railroads: 20
  • Freight Rail Mileage: 4,268
  • Trucks off the Road: It would have taken 12.6 million trucks to handle the freight that moved by rail in Minnesota in 2024.
Fact sheet

State Spotlight

Minnesota is eighth nationally in freight rail mileage. In 2025, it led the country in rail shipments of iron ore; was third in originated rail shipments of corn; fourth in originated rail shipments of wheat; and third in originated rail shipments of soybeans. Other top products originated in Minnesota include ethanol; food products like soybean meal, dried distillers grains, and soybean oil; dolomite rock; and coke. Top rail terminated commodities include iron ore that’s loaded onto Great Lakes ships; coal for electricity generation; anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizer products; crushed stone; asphalt; and wheat. International Falls, Minnesota, is the highest-volume U.S.-Canada rail border crossing.

Celebrating 200 Years of Rail
(1827-2027)

The discovery of rich iron ore deposits on Minnesota’s Mesabi Range led to railroads built specifically to move ore. By the early 20th century, trains were hauling millions of tons to Lake Superior ports, helping supply the raw materials that fueled America’s industrial growth.

What Moves by Rail

2025 Data

Originated in Minnesota

Commodity Million Tons Units
Metallic ores 36.9 433,200
Farm products 15.4 146,600
Food products 8.7 86,800
Chemicals 3.5 36,700
Petroleum products 2.7 27,700
All other carloads 10.4 117,800
Intermodal 2.5 141,000
TOTAL 80.2M 989,800

Terminated in Minnesota

Commodity Million Tons Units
Metallic ores 29.7 366,800
Coal 7.2 60,400
Chemicals 4.1 41,200
Farm products 2.6 25,400
Nonmetallic minerals 1.4 22,100
All other carloads 10.1 129,800
Intermodal 2.2 158,700
TOTAL 57.3M 804,500

Carriers Operating in Minnesota

BNSF Railway 1,712
Canadian National Railway 378
CPKC 1,702
Union Pacific Railroad 644
Class I Total 4,436

Class I Railroad Mileage

BNSF Railway 1,712
Canadian National Railway 378
CPKC 1,702
Union Pacific Railroad 644

Short Line Railroads

Airlake Terminal Railway 2
Cannon Valley Railroad 15
Cloquet Terminal Railroad 3
Ellis & Eastern Railroad 42
Minnesota Commercial Railway 86
Minnesota Northern Railroad 165
Minnesota Prairie Line 94
Minnesota, Dakota & Western Railway 2
Northern Lines Railway 25
Northern Plains Railroad 46
Otter Tail Valley Railroad 74
Progressive Rail 62
Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad 172
Red River Valley & Western Railroad 51
St. Croix Valley Railroad 35
Twin Cities & Western Railroad 189
Other Canadian
Canadian National Railway (non-GTC) 44

Contacts in Minnesota

Government-affairs leads for the railroads operating in the state.

BNSF
Lydia Underdahl
Executive Director, Public Affairs
Lydia.Underdahl@bnsf.com
Canadian National
Kevin Donahue
State & Local Affairs Manager
Kevin.Donahue@cn.ca
CPKC
Andy Cummings
Senior Manager, U.S. Government Affairs
Andy.Cummings@cpkcr.com
Union Pacific
Kelli O’Brien
Sr. Director, Public Affairs
kobrien@up.com
G&W
Ross Lane
AVP, Government Affairs
ross.lane@gwrr.com

Note: Data are for 2025 except rail employment and truck equivalents, which are 2024. Total state mileage excludes trackage rights. Data are AAR estimates based on information from various sources.