(NAPSA)—When it comes to moving freight, railroads rule. Chances are if you eat it, burn it, wearit, drive it or use it in your business, it was brought to you by rail. America’s freight railroads carry: * more than 40 percent of the nation’s intercity freight, * an estimated 70 percent of vehicles domestic auto manufacturers bring to market, * over 60 percentof the nation's coal, which generates 36 percent of the nation’s electricity, and * approximately 40 percent of the nation's grain. U.S. railroads transported over A growing number of people 27 million carloads of freight in are getting the idea that freight railroads help to hold down utility costs. than 9 million intermodal trailers line. 1999. That included nearly more which helps to keep utility costs in and containers. Intermodal is the term used to describe the process of movingtrailers and containers by rail. It’s estimated intermodal volume has nearly tripled since 1980. Railroads also help to keep costs down. On average it costs 28 percent less to move freight by inflation-adjusted dollars, that becomes 57 percentless. It’s estimated U.S. freight railroads directly contribute $14 billion a year to the economy in wages and benefits to some 200,000 employees and billions more in purchases from suppliers. Since 1980, major freight railroads in the United States have invested more than $263 billion to maintain and improve their infrastructure and equipment. U.S. freight railroads reinvest porting a new car from the factory to the showroom has declined. The cost of moving lumberby rail has also declined, which has helped to hold the line on new homeprices. percentage of revenues than any other major U.S. industrial sector. In 1999 railroads reinvested nearly $7 billion. That’s 20 percentof their revenuesfor that year. rail now than it did in 1981. In As a result, the cost of trans- At the same time, thecost of trans- porting coal has also declined, more in plants and equipment as a To learn more, visit the Web site at www.aar.org.
