Rail Freight Transportation Market in North America to grow by USD 37.53 Billion (2025-2029), with low freight transportation costs driving the market. Report with the AI impact on market trends -...

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The rail freight transportation market in north america size is estimated to grow by USD 37.53 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of  7.3%  during the forecast period. Low transportation cost of freight is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing use of artificial intelligence (ai) in rail infrastructure technology. However, growing competition from alternate freight services  poses a challenge. Key market players include Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brookfield Business Partners LP, Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX Corp., DB Schenker, DHL Express Ltd., DSV AS, GeoMetrix Rail Logistics Inc., Grupo Mexico S.A.B. De C.V., Harsco Corp, Hub Group Inc., Kerry Logistics Network Ltd., Norfolk Southern Corp., Patriot Rail Co., RSI Logistics Inc., Union Pacific Corp., United Parcel Service Inc., VIA Rail Canada Inc., and WSP Inc..

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Rail Freight Transportation Market In North America Scope
Report Coverage	Details
Base year	2024
Historic period	2019-2023
Forecast period	2025-2029
Growth momentum & CAGR	Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.3%
Market growth 2025-2029	USD 37.53 Billion
Market structure	Fragmented
YoY growth 2022-2023 (%)	7.6
Regional analysis	North America
Performing market contribution	North America at 100%
Key countries	US, Canada, and Mexico
Key companies profiled	Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brookfield Business Partners LP, Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX Corp., DB Schenker, DHL Express Ltd., DSV AS, GeoMetrix Rail Logistics Inc., Grupo Mexico S.A.B. De C.V., Harsco Corp, Hub Group Inc., Kerry Logistics Network Ltd., Norfolk Southern Corp., Patriot Rail Co., RSI Logistics Inc., Union Pacific Corp., United Parcel Service Inc., VIA Rail Canada Inc., and WSP Global Inc.

Market Driver

Rail freight transportation in North America is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing intermodal traffic and the expanding urban population. Railroads play a crucial role in moving goods, particularly in sectors like coal, building materials, iron, and steel. The rail industry is embracing digital technology, with AI-enabled software and predictive operation systems enhancing traffic planning and locomotive efficiency. Leading players are investing in rail freight services to meet rising demand, while focusing on fuel costs and environmental efficiency. Carloads of containers and trailers are on the rise, with AI-powered rail tracking solutions improving reliability and safety. Key trends include high-speed trains, economic performance, and freight volumes in economic hubs. Digitalization, rolling stock upgrades, and value-added services are also shaping the market. E-commerce and mining activity are driving demand, while reducing carbon emissions remains a priority. Rail transport's reliability, safety, and operations are under constant scrutiny, with passenger safety and accidents a major concern. The rail industry faces competition from road and air transporters, but its environmental efficiency and digitalization make it a compelling choice for moving goods efficiently and sustainably. 

The rail freight transportation market in North America is experiencing significant growth due to technological advancements in rail infrastructure. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are being utilized to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance safety. Governments in the US and Canada are investing in electrification projects and railway operators are implementing next-generation technologies for railway signaling and track electrification. For instance, the Canadian Railway is using AI and IoT technologies to improve various aspects of its operations, such as predictive maintenance, train routing, and fuel efficiency. CN, a major railway operator, has implemented an AI-powered predictive maintenance system called CN Cognition. These advancements are revolutionizing the rail freight transportation industry in North America. 

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 Market Challenges

•         The rail freight transportation market in North America faces several challenges in the context of increasing freight volumes and urbanization. Intermodal transportation, which involves the transfer of goods between different modes of transport like railroads and trucks, requires efficient traffic planning and predictive operations. Leading rail freight services are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) enabled software to optimize operations, reduce fuel costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Key commodities transported via rail include coal, building materials, iron, and steel. Railroads must invest in digital technology, such as AI and digitalization, to improve the reliability and safety of rail freight services. Rolling stock, locomotive engineers, and railway operations must adapt to these changes to maintain economic performance. E-commerce and mining activity contribute significantly to rail freight transportation. High speed trains and cumulative freight loading are also gaining popularity. However, challenges remain, including the competition from road and air transporters, carbon emissions, and passenger safety. Rail tracking solutions and connected mobility are essential for addressing these challenges and ensuring the future success of the rail industry.

•         The rail freight transportation market in North America faces competition from alternative freight services like road, air, and ocean freight. Road freight offers advantages such as doorstep delivery and flexible delivery timings, while rail freight operates on less flexible schedules and cannot connect directly from one business location to another. Trains also operate slower than trucks and are not economically feasible for short-distance cargo transportation. These factors may hinder the growth of the rail freight market during the forecast period.

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Segment Overview 

This rail freight transportation market in North America report extensively covers market segmentation by  

Mode Of Transportation 

• 1.1 Freight cars
• 1.2 Tank wagons
• 1.3 Intermodals

End-user 

• 2.1 Petroleum and chemical
• 2.2 Coal
• 2.3 Metals and minerals
• 2.4 Agriculture products
• 2.5 Others

Geography 

• 3.1 North America

1.1 Freight cars- Freight car manufacturing companies are increasingly focused on redesigning freight cars to enhance the capacity and lifespan of containers, boosting transportation efficiency both in individual trips and over the long term. This has led in demand for new freight cars from end-user industries. The market is also experiencing continuous technological advancements in design, along with the integration of cutting-edge technologies like telematics, which are expected to drive growth in this segment during the forecast period. Compared to other transportation methods, rail freight offers a significantly lower environmental impact, being 55% more fuel-efficient. Additionally, choosing rail freight helps alleviate road traffic congestion, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.

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Research Analysis

Rail Freight Transportation in North America is a critical component of the logistics industry, connecting markets and facilitating the movement of goods across the continent. With the world's population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and urbanization on the rise, the demand for efficient and sustainable freight transportation solutions is increasing. Rail freight services offer numerous benefits, including the ability to transport large volumes of goods over long distances at lower fuel costs compared to road transport. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming rail freight transportation through AI-enabled software like RailVision Analytics, which optimizes traffic planning and predictive operation. Carloads of goods, including containers and trailers, coal, building materials, iron, and steel, are transported using advanced rolling stock. Locomotive engineers are assisted by digital technology to improve operational efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The economic performance of rail freight transportation is closely tied to freight volumes, goods transported, and value-added services offered. Digital technology and environmental efficiency are key priorities for the industry as it seeks to remain competitive and sustainable.

Market Research Overview

Rail Freight Transportation in North America is a critical component of the logistics industry, enabling the efficient movement of goods between economic hubs. With the world's population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and urbanization accelerating, the demand for rail freight services is expected to grow. Intermodal transportation, which combines rail and other modes, offers advantages in terms of cost, speed, and environmental efficiency. Railroads are integrating digital technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) enabled software, to optimize traffic planning and predictive operation. Carloads of goods, including coal, building materials, iron, and steel, are transported in carriers like containers and trailers. Fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions are key considerations for the rail industry. AI and digitalization are driving improvements in operational reliability, safety, and efficiency. Rolling stock upgrades and high-speed trains are also part of the industry's evolution. Rail freight transportation competes with road and air transporters, offering advantages in terms of capacity, cost, and environmental impact. E-commerce and mining activity are significant growth drivers. However, challenges remain, including the need to ensure passenger safety, reduce carbon emissions, and address accidents. Rail tracking solutions are essential for monitoring operations and enhancing connected mobility.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary
2 Market Landscape
3 Market Sizing
4 Historic Market Size
5 Five Forces Analysis
6 Market Segmentation

• Mode Of Transportation
• Freight Cars
• Tank Wagons
• Intermodals
• End-user
• Petroleum And Chemical
• Coal
• Metals And Minerals
• Agriculture Products
• Others
• Geography
• North America

7 Customer Landscape
8 Geographic Landscape
9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends
10 Company Landscape
11 Company Analysis
12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: media@technavio.com
Website: www.technavio.com/

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SOURCE Technavio