Shortline railroad

Especially since 1980 in the U.S. and 1990 in Canada, many shortlines have been established when larger railroad companies sold off or abandoned low-profit portions of their trackage.

As defined by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), a Class III is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $28 million.

There are three kinds of shortlines in the U.S.: handling, switch, and ISS (Interline Settlement System).

About a quarter of all U.S. rail freight travels at least a small part of its journey over a short-line railroad.

[4] An ever-growing number of shortline operators have been acquired by larger holding companies which own or lease railroad properties in many states, as well as internationally.