Industries in the Rail Transportation subsector provide rail transportation of passengers and/or cargo using railroad rolling stock. The railroads in this subsector primarily either operate on networks, with physical facilities, labor force, and equipment spread over an extensive geographic area, or operate over a short distance on a local rail line.
Scenic and sightseeing rail transportation and street railroads, commuter rail, and rapid transit are not included in this subsector but are included in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, and Subsector 485, Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation, respectively. Although these activities use railroad rolling stock, they are different from the activities included in rail transportation. Sightseeing and scenic railroads do not usually involve place-to-place transportation; the passenger's trip typically starts and ends at the same location. Commuter railroads operate in a manner more consistent with local and urban transit and are often part of integrated transit systems.
48211 Rail Transportation
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating railroads (except street
railroads, commuter rail, urban rapid transit, and scenic and sightseeing trains). Line-haul
rail roads and short line railroads are included in this industry.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Operating street railroads, commuter rail, and urban rapid transit systems - classified in Industry Group 4851, Urban Transit Systems;
- Operating scenic and sightseeing trains - classified in Industry 48711, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land; and
- Operating switching and terminal facilities as separate establishments - classified in Industry 48821, Support Activities for Rail Transportation.
482111 Line-Haul Railroads
This U.S. industry comprises establishments known as line-haul railroads primarily engaged in
operating railroads for the transport of passengers and/or cargo over a long distance within a
rail network. These establishments provide for the intercity movement of trains between the
terminals and stations on main and branch lines of a line-haul rail network (except for local
switching services).
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Operating switching and terminal facilities as separate establishments - classified in Industry 488210, Support Activities for Rail Transportation;
- Operating railroads over a short distance on local rail lines - classified in U.S. Industry 48211, Short Line Railroads; and
- Operating commuter rail systems - classified in U.S. Industry 485112, Commuter Rail Systems.
482112 Short Line Railroads
This U.S. industry comprises establishments known as short line railroads primarily engaged in
operating railroads for the transport of cargo over a short distance on local rail lines not
part of a rail network.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Operating street railroads, commuter rail, and urban rapid transit systems - classified in Industry Group 4851, Urban Transit Systems;
- Operating scenic and sightseeing trains - classified in Industry 487110, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land;
- Operating switching and terminal facilities as separate establishments - classified in Industry 488210, Support Activities for Rail Transportation; and
- Operating railroads for the transport of passengers and/or cargo over a long distance - classified in U.S. Industry 482111, Line-Haul Railroads.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
