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What does AAR's 2024 Rail Jobs Report tell us about the Future of Rail?

Writer's picture: Tate LindenTate Linden

Sometimes I get blank looks when I mention what Railtowns.org is about. Some folks in rail communities don't know what being a railtown does for their community beyond their direct experiences - which are mostly being stopped at crossings and hearing the horn blow. The Association of American Railroads' new Rail Jobs Report offers some stats to help out. 


Good Jobs Close to Home: Most Class I craft rail employees earn between $90,000 and $140,000 in wages, with an average base wage around $111,000. When benefits are factored in, total compensation averages around $160,000, bringing valuable economic stability to families in railtowns.

Safety Matters: Railroads have invested over $522 billion in infrastructure and safety upgrades since 2000, leading to a significant reduction in accidents. Safer rail means safer towns, especially for communities with major rail crossings and active yards.

Environmentally Efficient: Freight rail can move one ton of goods over 470 miles on just one gallon of fuel, reducing emissions and keeping more trucks off the road. This means cleaner air and less congestion in the places we live.

A Boost to Local Economies: Freight rail supports over 1.1 million jobs across the country, extending beyond rail employees to support local businesses, contractors, and other industries.

While the report emphasizes positive aspects like compensation and safety investments, there are some who see it differently. Unions continue to raise concerns about wage growth, working conditions, and safety standards. 


The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) data seems to match up well with this report, but allows for more context - showing (for instance) a matching decline in total accidents/derailments over the past decade, but an accident rate per million miles traveled that has gotten worse. 


While that's not great, it's also a distraction. 


From our perspective, the railroad industry does an immense amount of good for our communities and country, but they're constrained from necessary revolutionary improvements by the infrastructure beneath their wheels. Imagine how much safer they'd be if we - as a nation - invested in a rail network where at-grade crossings are rare. Where we (re)design our communities around/above/below the tracks rather than through them. Where rail stations are hubs of living, working, and playing, and maybe (just maybe) not everyone needs a car.


That's faster rail travel and transport, fewer cars and trucks on our roads, reduced emissions, better jobs, shorter commutes, safer communities, and flourishing and accessible local economies. Simply by investing in separated rail infrastructure. 


It'll take a while, but at Railtowns we're working (all volunteer!) to create that reality. Big things are in the works. Also small things. 


Can't wait to share.

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