Texas Railroad Map

About Texas Railroad Map

Explore Texas rail map showing the all the rail routes with international boundary, state boundary, state capital, major cities, and major towns.

Major Railroads of Texas

Name	Type	Reporting Mark	Parent Company	Locale / Main Line	Notes
BNSF Railway	Freight (Class I)	BNSF	BNSF Railway Inc.	Statewide	One of two Class I railroads serving Texas
Canadian Pacific Kansas City	Freight (Class I)	CPKC	Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.	Statewide	Cross-border freight service
Union Pacific Railroad	Freight (Class I)	UP	Union Pacific Corp.	Statewide	Largest rail network in Texas
No Class II railroads currently operate in Texas
Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad	Freight (Class III)	DGNO	Genesee & Wyoming	North Texas (~170 mi)	Short line voucher serving suburban areas :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Galveston Railroad	Freight (Class III)	GVSR	Genesee & Wyoming	Galveston, TX	Ports switching operations :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Moscow, Camden & San Augustine Railroad	Freight (Class III)	MCSA	Georgia‑Pacific	Camden ↔ Moscow, TX (6.9 mi)	Texas’ oldest original charter railroad :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Texas State Railroad	Passenger (Heritage)	TSR	State Railroad Authority	Rusk ⇄ Palestine (25 mi)	Official state heritage railroad :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Texas Railroads

Texas maintains one of the biggest and most important railroad systems throughout the United States. Texas maintains the longest active rail network in the United States with more than 10,000 miles of track which drives freight transportation and passenger movement and supports regional economic growth. The Texas railroad system extends across the entire state to link major cities with industrial areas and ports and rural settlements. The railroad system enables multiple industries to operate including energy production and agriculture and manufacturing and international trade because it borders the U.S.–Mexico border.

Freight Rail Network

The state of Texas receives its freight rail service from two major Class I railroads which operate as Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. The two carriers control all long-haul freight operations in Texas through their extensive network of thousands of miles of track. The Texas freight rail network transported more than 450 million tons of cargo during 2023 which established it as a critical national supply chain route. The rail network transports petroleum together with chemicals and coal and agricultural products and intermodal containers. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern established a new Class I connection which provides cross-border service between Texas and Mexico and Canada.

Texas supports multiple Class III short line railroads which offer local transportation services to connect shippers with the national rail network. The Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) operates as one of the many short lines in Texas together with the Galveston Railroad and the Moscow, Camden & San Augustine Railroad which maintains its operation since the state's early days. The short lines function as vital freight access points for rural and industrial areas while providing essential support to Gulf Coast port operations.

Passenger Rail Services

Texas passenger rail services operate with reduced coverage than freight rail but maintain essential connections to population areas. The Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited and Heartland Flyer operate as Amtrak's three long-distance routes through the state. The Texas cities of Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso connect to major destinations including Chicago, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City through these routes. The Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex receives light rail and commuter rail services through Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Metro’s TEXRail. Capital MetroRail provides service between the Austin city center and suburban areas and technological centers in Leander.

The Texas State Railroad operates as a heritage railway which provides scenic excursions between Rusk and Palestine towns in Texas. The historic route from the 19th century has evolved into a tourist destination which safeguards East Texas rail heritage.

Economic and Strategic Importance

Texas experiences significant economic effects because of its rail network. The rail industry maintains employment for tens of thousands of people while generating billions of dollars for the Texas economy each year. The availability of rail transportation serves as a primary consideration for businesses when choosing locations for warehouses and manufacturing facilities and logistics centers. Texas functions as a vital entry point for North American trade with Mexico so rail connectivity remains vital for efficient border freight operations. The energy sector of Texas depends on rail transportation to move crude oil and natural gas and refined products from the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast refineries to national markets.

Texas has invested in infrastructure upgrades, rail safety improvements, and intermodal terminal expansion to keep pace with population growth and freight demand in recent years. The proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston has gained momentum in discussions due to rapid urbanization and highway pressure although implementation remains in early stages.