Texas has one of the largest railroad networks in the U.S., with over 10,000 miles of track connecting major cities and supporting its economy. Houston, the state's largest rail hub, handles significant freight traffic, while Dallas-Fort Worth serves as a key intersection for national rail lines. San Antonio and El Paso are vital for trade with Mexico, and Fort Worth is home to major rail companies like BNSF. Texas railroads transport essential goods, including oil, agriculture, and manufacturing products, making them a backbone of the state's transportation infrastructure.
Explore Texas rail map showing the all the rail routes with international boundary, state boundary, state capital, major cities, and major towns.
Texas Railroads
Texas boasts one of the most extensive and historically significant railroad networks in the United States, serving as a vital link for transporting goods across the state and the nation. With over 10,000 miles of rail, Texas railroads play a crucial role in the state's economy, connecting major cities, supporting industries, and facilitating international trade.
Historical Background
Railroads in Texas date back to the mid-19th century when the first rail line, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway, began operating in 1853. Railroads quickly expanded, facilitating the growth of cities, agriculture, and industry across the state. The arrival of railroads spurred the development of major cities such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, which became central hubs for trade and commerce. Railroads allowed Texas to integrate more fully into the national economy, connecting it to other parts of the country and supporting the movement of cattle, cotton, and oil, which were major economic drivers at the time.
Modern Texas Railroads
Today, Texas has a robust rail network that remains a key part of the state's transportation infrastructure. The state is home to several Class I railroads, which are the largest freight railroads in North America. These include the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, both of which have significant operations in Texas.
Key Cities and Rail Hubs
Houston: Houston is the largest rail hub in Texas and one of the most important in the nation. The city's proximity to the Port of Houston, one of the busiest ports in the U.S., makes it a crucial link for transporting goods between rail and maritime trade routes. Houston handles large volumes of freight, particularly petroleum products, chemicals, and agricultural goods, which are key exports for the state.
Dallas-Fort Worth
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is another major rail center, with both Union Pacific and BNSF Railway maintaining significant operations in the region. The Metroplex serves as a key connection point for freight traveling east-west across the United States. Rail lines in the area carry a wide range of products, including consumer goods, automobiles, and industrial materials. The Dallas Intermodal Terminal, located south of the city, is a critical facility for transferring shipping containers between rail and truck transport.
San Antonio
San Antonio is a central hub for rail transport, particularly for goods moving between the U.S. and Mexico. The city’s location on the Union Pacific network makes it an important point for cross-border trade, handling agricultural products, manufactured goods, and other commodities. San Antonio’s rail infrastructure supports the city's growing manufacturing sector, which includes automotive and aerospace industries.
El Paso
Located at the western tip of Texas, El Paso is a key rail hub for international trade with Mexico. Union Pacific and BNSF Railway both operate in El Paso, with rail lines connecting the city to major markets in California, the Midwest, and beyond. El Paso's rail system is essential for moving goods through the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly for industries involved in manufacturing and logistics.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is home to the headquarters of BNSF Railway, one of the largest freight railroads in North America. The city plays a crucial role in the national rail network, serving as a major center for rail operations in Texas. Fort Worth's rail infrastructure is heavily utilized for the movement of coal, grain, and other bulk commodities, in addition to intermodal freight, which combines rail and truck transport.
Freight and Commodities
Texas railroads are vital for the transportation of a wide variety of commodities, including:
Petroleum and Chemical Products
As one of the largest oil-producing states in the U.S., Texas relies heavily on its rail network to transport crude oil, refined petroleum products, and chemicals. Rail is particularly important in moving oil from the Permian Basin in West Texas to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Agriculture
Texas is a major producer of agricultural goods, including cotton, grains, and livestock. Railroads are essential for moving these products to markets both domestically and internationally. The state's rail network connects farms and ranches across Texas to major ports and processing centers.
Automobiles
Texas is home to several automotive manufacturing plants, particularly in the San Antonio area, and railroads are a key mode of transportation for finished vehicles and automotive parts. Rail cars specially designed to transport vehicles, known as auto racks, carry thousands of vehicles across the state each year.
Consumer Goods
The intermodal freight system, which involves transferring shipping containers between rail and trucks, plays a critical role in delivering consumer goods to Texas and other states. Major intermodal terminals in cities like Dallas and Houston handle millions of containers each year, supporting retail industries and manufacturing supply chains.
Rail and International Trade
The proximity of Texas to Mexico makes rail transport an essential component of international trade. Texas has several major rail crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, with the most significant being at Laredo, which is the busiest land port in the United States in terms of trade value. Trains regularly move goods such as electronics, automotive parts, and agricultural products between the two countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), have further strengthened the importance of Texas railroads in supporting trade with Mexico and Canada.
High-Speed Rail Developments
In addition to freight rail, Texas is exploring high-speed rail options for passenger travel. The Texas Central Railway project, a proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, aims to reduce travel time between the two cities to under 90 minutes. Modeled after Japan's bullet train technology, this project would provide an alternative to highway travel and domestic flights, offering a faster and more sustainable mode of transportation. Although the project has faced legal and financial challenges, it represents a potential future development for Texas' rail system.
Economic Impact
The rail industry is a major contributor to the Texas economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs in areas such as rail operations, manufacturing, maintenance, and logistics. Rail transport provides cost-effective and efficient means of moving large volumes of goods over long distances, helping Texas maintain its position as one of the top exporting states in the U.S. In 2022, Texas' exports were valued at over $450 billion, with railroads playing a vital role in moving these goods to domestic and international markets.
List of Texas Railroads
Common freight carriers
Class I
BNSF Railway (BNSF)
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
Class II
No Class II Railroads in Texas
Class III
Alamo Gulf Coast Railroad (AGCR) - (Martin Marietta Inc.)
Angelina and Neches River Railroad (ANR)
Austin Western Railroad (AWRR) - (Watco)
Big Spring Rail (BSR)
Blacklands Railroad (BLR)
Border Pacific Railroad (BOP)
Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railroad (BRG)
CMC Railroad (CMC)
Corpus Christi Terminal Railroad (CCPN) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
Fort Worth and Western Railroad (FWWR)
Galveston Railroad (GVSR) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
Gardendale Railroad (GDR)
Georgetown Railroad (GRR)
Grainbelt Corporation (GNBC)
GT Logistics
Gulf Coast Switching (GCS)
Hondo Railway (HRR)
Kiamichi Railroad (KRR) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
La Salle Railway (LSRY)
Live Oak Railroad (LOR)
Lubbock and Western Railway (LBWR) - (Watco)
Moscow, Camden and San Augustine Railroad (MCSA) - (Georgia-Pacific)
Oak Grove Railroad
Orange Port Terminal Railway (OPT)
Panhandle Northern Railroad (PNR)
Pecos Valley Southern Railway (PVS) - (Watco)
Plainsman Switching Company (PSC)
Plainview Terminal Company (PTC)
Point Comfort and Northern Railway (PCN) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
Port Terminal Railroad Association (PTRA)
Rail Logix (Frontier Logistics LP)
Rio Valley Switching Company (RVSC) operates the Rio Valley Railroad (RVRR)
RJ Corman Texas Line (RJCD)
Sabine River and Northern Railroad (SRN)
San Antonio Central Railway (SAC) - (Watco)
San Jacinto Transportation (SJCT)
South Plains Lamesa Railroad (SLAL)
Southern Switching Company (SSC) operates the Lone Star Railroad (LSRR)
Southwest Gulf Railroad (SWG) - (Vulcan Materials Company)
Temple and Central Texas Railway (TC)
Texas Central Business Lines (TCB)
Texas City Terminal Railway (TCT) - (BNSF and UP)
Texas, Gonzales and Northern Railway (TXGN)
Texas & Eastern Railroad
Texas & New Mexico Railway (TXN) - (Watco)
Texas Northeastern Railroad (TNER) - (Genesee & Wyoming)
Texas and Northern Railway (TN)
Texas North Western Railway (TXNW)
Texas and Oklahoma Railroad (TXOR)
Texas Pacifico Transportation (TXPF) - (Grupo México)
Texas Rock Crusher Railway (TXR)
Texas South-Eastern Railroad (TSE)
Timber Rock Railroad (TIBR) - (Watco)
Western Rail Road (WRRC)
Wichita, Tillman and Jackson Railway (WTJR)
Dallas Streetcar - (DART)
El Paso Streetcar - (Sun Metro)
Galveston Island Trolley - (Island Transit)
M-Line Trolley - (MATA)
Tourist and Heritage
Austin and Texas Central Railroad (ATCR) - (Austin Steam Train Association)
Grapevine Vintage Railroad (GVRX)
Hermann Park Railroad - (Hermann Park Conservancy)
Historic Jefferson Railway (JCB)
Six Flags & Texas Railroad - (Six Flags Over Texas)
Texas State Railroad (TSR)
Longhorn and Western Railroad - (Texas Transportation Museum)
