When you think about Arizona, the first thing that comes to mind is probably cactus, cowboys, and Route 66. However one of the most successful industries in Arizona is trains. In fact, it’s estimated that railroads are responsible for 40% of all freight traffic in the state. Arizonabased trainual saas series ventures. Located in the heart of Arizona, Portland is home to a large rail yard, making it one of the busiest rail yards in the country. Unfortunately for those who work here, their jobs are incredibly dangerous.
The following list contains the Top 10 Most Successful Arizona Train Companies.
10) BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway has been operating since 1864 and is currently owned by Berkshire Hathaway. With 13,798 employees, they are ranked number 10 on our list of top 10 most successful companies in Arizona. They operate a total of 508 trains that account for 250 million carloads every year.
9) Union Pacific Railroad
Now in the United States for over 60 years, Union Pacific’s original role was to move western miners from the Midwest to California. They continue to provide excellent service today. The headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska and they have been ranked number 9 on our list of Top 10 Most Successful Arizona Companies because of their $34 billion yearly revenue. Their employee count is 2,595 and they have a fleet of 4,728 equipment.
8) BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway has been operating since 1864 and is currently owned by Berkshire Hathaway. With 13,798 employees, they are ranked number 8 on our list of top 10 most successful companies in Arizona. They operate a total of 508 trains that account for 250 million carloads every year.
7) A-OK Railway Contractors
A-OK Railway Contractors specializes in the design, engineering, and construction of railroad track and civil infrastructure. They are based out of Lake Havasu City and employ 95 people. Their revenue is estimated at $33 million per year and they operate 4 train lines.
6) Valley Santa Fe Railroad
Based out of Phoenix, Arizona, Valley Santa Fe Railroad operates 730 miles of rail lines throughout Arizona with hubs in Chandler, Casa Grande, Maricopa Freight Yard, San Manuel and Tucson. The company has been operating for over 30 years and provides freight transportation services for both companies and individuals. They have been ranked number 6 on our list of the Top 10 Most Successful Arizona Train Companies because of their revenue of $34 million per year.
5) OmniTRAX Railroads
OmniTRAX Railroads is a holding company that includes five different rail lines, Wabash, Duluth and Iron Range, Great Lakes Central Railroad, Mississippi and Alabama Railroad and Greenville to Gulfport Rail System. It is the fifth largest holding company in the United States and they have been operating since 1973. They are ranked number 5 on our list because of their $250 million yearly revenue and they employ 2,400 employees throughout their six different companies.
4) San Xavier District Railway
With their headquarters in Tucson, the San Xavier District Railway has been operating since July 29, 1992. They have five different lines and operate a total of 276 miles of track. The company currently employs 49 people and they have an annual revenue of $55 million. They are ranked number 4 on our list because they employ many employees and they have an excellent safety record.
3) Arizona Western Railway
Arizona Western Railway has been operating for over 27 years and it is the largest short line railroad in the state. It currently employs 82 people, but in the past five years their employee count has increased by 48%. They’ve also increased their revenue by over 30% in this same time period. The company is ranked number 3 on our list because they employ many employees and they have an excellent safety record.
2) Arizona & California Railroad
The Arizona & California Railroad has been operating since 1868 and it’s owned by Union Pacific. They operate a total of 861 miles of rail lines in the state of Arizona that accounts for approximately 1% of all the track in the country. They have been ranked number 2 because of their $80 million yearly revenue and they employ over 1200 people.
1) Arizonian Railroad
Based out of Phoenix, Arizona, Arizonian Railroads operates 12 miles of track in the western part of the United States. It was established in 1976. It has been ranked number 1 on our list because of their $80 million yearly revenue and they employ over 1200 people. They also have an excellent safety record and it’s run by a family that has been involved with the railroad for over 30 years.
Conclusion of this article:
As you can see, Arizona is a “railroad” state. It’s estimated that there are over 4,000 miles of railroad track throughout Arizona and the city of Tucson alone has 6,000 railroad employees. The Phoenix area alone has more freight train traffic than the entire east coast combined. There are many families who have been involved with railroads in Arizona for decades and if you talk to them, they’ll tell you that these companies provide an excellent income and benefits package for their workers. This article shows which companies are the most successful in terms of revenue received and employee count.
