Railroad Day on Capitol Hill

Railroad Day 2026 dates will be announced in January!

Download the Railroad Day 2025 handout here

America’s freight railroads operate in 49 states and the District of Columbia, serving nearly every major industry – from agriculture and chemicals to energy and manufacturing. To deliver safe and reliable service, Class I railroads – the six largest – work closely with 600+ short line railroads. Short lines are small businesses typically employing less than 30 people, operating nearly 30% of the nation’s route miles, providing the first- and last-mile connections for thousands of shippers to the national rail system.

For nearly 200 years, freight railroads have been a key driver of America’s economic development, linking businesses across the country and around the globe. Freight railroads continue this legacy using advanced technologies that improve safety, enhance efficiency, and expand economic opportunities for our customers, and reduce emissions. To support these goals, we urge Congress to:

Maintain and extend tax policies that incentivize private investment in infrastructure.
Restore the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to a true user-based system and oppose increases to truck size and weight limits.
Advance permitting reforms that provide greater transparency and predictability while ensuring timely, focused environmental reviews.
Guarantee full and consistent funding for safety-enhancing rail grant programs, including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) and Section 130 programs.