The Great Rail Squeeze: Consolidation's Cost to Farmers
April 29, 2026
7
Class I Railroads Today
down from 40+ before the 1980 Staggers Act
$85B
Proposed Merger Value
largest rail consolidation proposed in decades
~30%
Captive Agricultural Shippers
rail shippers with no competitive routing alternative
+24%
Ag Freight Rate Rise (2020–24)
avg. agricultural rail freight revenue per ton-mile
12+
N. Alabama Counties at Risk
dependent on single-carrier routes for bulk commodities
Class I Railroad Count, 1978–2024
Presidential administrations shown as background bands. Key merger/policy events marked.
Democratic administration
Republican administration
Key policy/merger event
Frequently Asked Questions
Data Sources
Surface Transportation Board · Association of American Railroads · USDA Agricultural Marketing Service · STB Waybill Sample · Alabama Farmers Federation
Data sources
Class I Railroad Count Historical Data· Association of American Railroads (AAR)STB Waybill Sample — Agricultural Freight Rates· Surface Transportation BoardSTB Annual Reports and Merger Decisions· Surface Transportation BoardCaptive Shipper and Rail Competition Analysis· USDA Agricultural Marketing ServiceCP-KCS Merger Decision and Conditions· Surface Transportation BoardAlabama Agricultural Statistics — Limestone and Lauderdale Counties· USDA NASS — Alabama Field OfficeRail Freight Rate Trends and Shipper Captivity· Congressional Research ServiceStaggers Rail Act Legislative History· Federal Railroad Administration