RailAmerica's Class Status......

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I was just getting to thinking about Rail America and all the shortlines that they currently operate…

Questions is…

If Rail America keeps buying up all these shortlines and operating them, is there a chance that they would ever reach Class One or Class Two status?

Are they currently looked at as a Class Three, or just a company that owns many class threes?

In order for a railway to be a class one does all of it’s tracks have to connect, or can a class one be a company that is made up of enough class three’s to qualify it as a class one?

??

Just Curious,
Macguy

2

Kinda Surprised nobody has chimed in yet… I didn’t think it would be that hard of a question…

3

Rail America has no class…lol… Railroads are measured individually. The class designation is by railroad and has nothing to do with the holding company. Thus, RailAmerica as a holding company can control as many railroads as it pleases without increasing the class rating of any particular railroad. If the individual railroads grow to revenues reflecting larger Class sizes they could individually become Class 2 or even Class 1 railroads, but this is very unlikely.

LC

4

Ok, that’s what I was pretty sure was the case, Rail America is just one big corporation that runs many Class Three’s.

5

Correct.

LC

6

Under whose classification (STB or AAR)???

Central Oregon & Pacific, Kyle, Indiana & Ohio, and Utah RR are al Class 2 Regionals according to STB…

7

I was thinking AAR based on revenues, but it doesn’t suprise me that some of the RA roads are hitting Class 2…

LC

8

This classification status strikes me as another tool of the man to oppress the people. Nothin but a lie perpetrated by the man to keep the brothers down!

9

I like em, they do what they do, make money at it, and stay out of the papers. Sound like smart people to me. [^][;)][tup]

10

How many class 2’s are there in North America?

I know Montana Rail Link is another one.