Rail freight across the USA drives the economy, and the USA is a nation that depends heavily on freight to maintain so many industries. The USA needs rail freight from farming to coal to transport goods all over the country. Here are the states that load and receive the most rail freight each year.
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Wyoming
At 273 million tons, Wyoming is the state that is most dependent on rail freight. This is largely due to the Powder River Basin, which is the largest coal-producing region in the country.
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Illinois
The state of Illinois comes in second place with 126 million tons of rail freight being loaded each year. This is thanks to the many major rail hubs that are located in Illinois, including the busy hub of Chicago.
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Texas
Texas is third on the list, with 118 million tons of rail freight being loaded annually. This Lone Star State is a major transportation corridor for both freight and passengers.
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Minnesota
In fourth place is Minnesota, which loads 90 million tons of rail freight each year. The North Star State serves as not only a significant transportation corridor for freight but also passengers. Furthermore, agriculture plays a vital role in the state’s economy; hence, every fall sees millions of tons of grain, corn, and soybeans shipped by rail.
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California
California freight railroads load 64 million tons of cargo each year, more than any other state except Texas. The Golden State’s economy is both large and diverse, from agriculture to manufacturing, so it ships a wide variety of products all over the country by rail.
As you can see from the massive amount of freight moved across the country, many states are heavily dependent on heavy rail to keep their economies going. Next time you see a freight train, think about all of the vital goods that it could be carrying and how important it is to the states that it goes through.
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