COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 482110

Line-Haul Railroads

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

21companies1881–1997founding years19still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCanadian Pacific Railway Limited
1881
FoundedAntofagasta plc
1888
1893
EconomyThe Panic of 1893 pulls down banks and overbuilt railroads.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAlaska Railroad Corporation
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCanadian National Railway Company
1919
FoundedTokyu Corporation
1922
FoundedOdakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
1923
FoundedSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGrupo TMM, S.A. de C.V.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Washington Companies
1964
FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1965
FoundedUnion Pacific Corporation
1969
FoundedNational Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
1971
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedNorfolk Southern CorporationFoundedStagecoach Holdings plc
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFlorida East Coast Industries, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEurotunnel Group
1986
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedGrupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.FoundedRailtrack Group PLC
1996
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited →
Active · founded 1881 · Canada
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited is the smallest of the six major North American railways, known as Class 1 railways.
Antofagasta plc →
Active · founded 1888 · United Kingdom
Antofagasta plc is one of the world's leading producers of copper, with total production levels nearing 472,000 tons in…
Alaska Railroad Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) operates passenger and freight trains from Seward, a major port on the Gulf of…
Canadian National Railway Company →
Active · founded 1919 · Canada
One of the six major North American railways, known as Class 1 railways, Canadian National Railway Company (CN)…
Tokyu Corporation →
Active · founded 1922 · Japan
Tokyu Corporation operates railways, freight companies, bus companies, and a domestic airline in Japan.
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1923 · Japan
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
The St. Joe Company →
Active · founded 1936
The St.
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français →
Active · founded 1938 · France
The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) is the state-owned railroad of France.
Grupo TMM, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1958 · Mexico
Grupo TMM, S.A.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Union Pacific Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Union Pacific Corporation (UP) is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is Union Pacific Railroad…
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) →
Active · founded 1971
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, is the United States' national rail passenger…
Virgin Group →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Virgin Group is a diversified grouping of more than 200 privately held companies.
Norfolk Southern Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) is a holding company that owns and operates one of the nation's biggest railroad…
Stagecoach Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1980 · United Kingdom
Stagecoach Holdings plc has ridden the deregulation of the United Kingdom's bus and rail routes to become one of the…
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
In 2000, Amtrak reached an agreement to use FECR's coastal tracks to begin a passenger service.
Eurotunnel Group →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
The Eurotunnel Group includes Eurotunnel plc, which, through its Eurotunnel subsidiaries, was established to design,…
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1996 · Mexico
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A.
Railtrack Group PLC →
Renamed · founded 1996 · United Kingdom
Railtrack Group PLC (Railtrack) has become synonymous with the troubles that the United Kingdom has faced with the…
Réseau Ferré de France →
Defunct · founded 1997 · France
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) owns France's railroad infrastructure.
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