Any idea how many train companies there are now in the USA ?

Answer 1

To date there are 19 Class One Railroads Currently Opperating in the US & Canada. They are:

BNSF, CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Amtrak, Amtrak California, Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, MARC (Maryland Area Commuter), Kansas City Southern, Long Island Railroad, Via Rail, GO Transit (Greater Toronto Transit), CAL Train, Metra, Virgina Rail Express, NJ Transit, Metrolink, & San Diego Coaster

Plus there are numerous shortlines, and many Fallen Flag Railroads (Non-Operating), and Leasing Company's

Answer 2

There's quite a few. There are the class 1 railroads, that has nothing to do with trackage, service or equipment, and is only determined by yearly gross revenue, last time I checked, $50 million a year. Don't know if this is still the breaking point, allowing for inflation.

Using that as a yardstick, I'm not sure if anyone can name them all. But here is what I've seen as of late.

Both UP and Norfolk Southern have TV commercials. We know CSX and BNSF exist. So there's two more, for a total of four.

Add AMTRAK to the mix, and there are five.

Those are the biggies, but there are many short lines, created through "sell offs" and "buy outs", "acquirements" and "mergers," but it's all the same. The carriers found a way to "short line" varying sub-divisions, and bust the unions as well.

How many? I'd like the answer to that myself. The truth is, the landscape changes so fast, there can not be an "actual" number.

But, you get the idea. There are many.

Answer 3

Amtrak

Answer 4

You can goto www.aar.org to find the exact number, but I believe it's somewhere over the 100 mark.