Wisconsin Freight Rail Week

The Governor Proclaims Freight Rail Week

Excerpt from Governor’s proclamation. See complete proclamation on the right.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Scott Walker, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim
October 17 - 23, 2011 as
Freight Rail Week

throughout the state of Wisconsin, and I commend this observance to all of our citizens.

Wisconsin's System

Wisconsin is served by 12 railroads including four major (Class I) railroads.
Wisconsin's freight railroads each year move about 180 million tons of cargo.
Wisconsin's major rail commodities include: coal, farm products, clay, concrete, pulp, paper, lumber or wood products and much more.
Rail freight movement between Wisconsin, Canada and Mexico is expected to continue to grow.

The Benefits of Freight Rail

Rail service provides a low cost transportation alternative for the high volume, lower value commodities that are essential to many of Wisconsin's industries.
The availability of rail service can be an important factor for states and municipalities interested in retaining and attracting certain businesses.
Freight rail eases highway congestion as one intermodal train can carry the freight of 280 trucks.
Rail moves a ton of freight more than 450 miles on just one gallon of fuel and emits fewer pollutants than transportation by truck.
A study shows that a 25% shift of freight from trucks to rail in urban areas in the U.S. by 2026 would on average each year: save each commuter 41 hours, save $985 in congestion costs per commuter, save each commuter 79 gallons of fuel, and reduce air pollution by nearly 920,500 tons.