Alabama Legislator Briefing February 5, 2015 About GoRail National non-profit grassroots organization promoting the public benefits of rail We are: railroads, rail supply companies, local business, government and community leaders Supporting legislation to expand rail capacity Opposing legislation that would shrink capacity or undercut investment in freight rail The Federal Railroad Administration calls the U.S. freight rail system the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world. The more than 180,000 freight railroad employees are among Americas most highly paid workers. Continued Record Rail Investment Source: AAR Railroads have invested $575 billion of their own capital since 1980 $29 billion investment in 2015 Freight Rail Creates Jobs Every freight rail job sustains another 4.5 jobs across the economy. Freight railroads generate nearly $265 billion in economic activity each year. Every $1 billion of new rail investment creates 20,000 jobs. Every $1 of rail investment that adds new capacity generates more than $3 in total economic output. Freight railroads hired nearly 17,000 in 2014; nearly one in four were veterans Motor vehicles and parts: 1.7 million carloads Intermodal: 12.8 million trailers and containers Food products: 1.7 million carloads And much more! Lumber, paper & other forest products: 1.3 million carloads Farm products: 1.5 million carloads Sand, stone & gravel: 1.1 million carloads Plastics, fertilizers and other chemicals: 2.4 million carloads Coal: 6.0 million carloads Figures are 2013. Balanced Regulation has Worked $575 billion invested in infrastructure and equipment since 1980 $29 billion investment in 2015 to build, maintain and upgrade their network Railroads hired nearly 17,000 employees in 2014, up from 11,000 in 2013 Average rail rates down 42% since 1981 Every rail job supports 4.5 additional jobs Railroads invest so taxpayers dont have to One train can haul several hundred truck trailers One train, nearly 500 miles, one gallon of diesel Railroads are four times as fuel-efficient as trucks Moving the nation toward energy independence Public Benefits of Freight Rail GoRail Michael Gaynor facebook.com/gorail twitter.com/gorail linkedin.com/gorail