How many class 1 railroads are there?

Answer 1

There are seven counting the Canadian lines:

Canadian National
Canadian Pacific
Union Pacific
CSX Transportation
Norfolk Southern
BNSF Railway
Kansas City Southern

Of note, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern will be added to that list if it builds its proposed line into the Powder River Basin.

EDIT: Hoghead, you are correct in that earnings define a railroad's class but your figure is off. A Class I railroad is defined by the AAR (the Association of American Railroads) as having greater than $319.3 million annually in gross revenues (a Class II, regional is defined as having revenues of greater than $20.5 million but less than $277.7 million; and a Class III, shortline, is defined as having under $10 million annually). Currently only seven carriers in North America fit that status (eight if the DM&E builds its PRB line). For more information, check out the link below.

Answer 2

Now I'm confused.

I had always understood that Class I status was derived from earnings. Unless changed, the last benchmark I was aware of was the $50 million per year gross revenue criteria.

If correct, then there are many more Class I rail lines, including short lines and branch lines.

Answer 3

Yep, I agree with the first answer, I wasnt aware that the DM & E's line would put it class one though, interesting.