Heavy hauling
Railroads excel at moving large volumes of heavy freight over long distances, including bulk commodities and long intermodal trains.
National connections
Large rail systems connect major regions and gateways while short-line and regional railroads provide important connections to many individual shippers.
Technology
Distributed power, advanced signaling, defect detectors, track-inspection technology, modern locomotives, and sophisticated logistics systems have changed railroad operations.
A continuing role
The modern freight railroad differs greatly from the railroad of 1900, but it remains tied to American agriculture, manufacturing, energy, construction, ports, and international trade.