Idaho has 2,660 miles of active railroad track across 4,129 segments, operated by 2 Class I freight carriers (Union Pacific, BNSF Railway) and 11 regional and shortline railroads. Amtrak operates 100 miles of passenger service, and 632 miles — 24% of the network — are designated STRACNET (the U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Rail Corridor Network).
Use the interactive Idaho railroad map below to explore every active rail line in the state, color-coded by operating railroad. Click any segment for the owner, division, subdivision, passenger status, and Strategic Rail Corridor designation. Or view the national US railroad interactive map to compare Idaho to every other state.
Idaho Rail Network by the Numbers
- 2,660 total track miles across 4,129 segments (USDOT NTAD)
- 2 Class I freight railroads operate in Idaho: Union Pacific, BNSF Railway
- 100 miles of Amtrak passenger track; 150 total miles of passenger service when commuter and tourist routes are included
- 632 miles classified as STRACNET — strategic military rail corridors (24% of the state network)
- 2,502 miles of single-track main line; 149 miles of double track
- 11 regional and shortline railroads operate the remaining track
Class I and Major Freight Railroads in Idaho
Idaho has 2 of the seven Class I freight railroads operating in North America. Together with regional and shortline carriers, they form the active freight network in the state:
| Railroad | Code | Track Miles | Segments | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Pacific | UP | 1,286.5 | 2,034 | 48.4% |
| EIRR | EIRR | 368.9 | 896 | 13.9% |
| Unknown | XXXX | 210.2 | 88 | 7.9% |
| BNSF Railway | BNSF | 209.0 | 215 | 7.9% |
| BGCM | BGCM | 158.1 | 171 | 5.9% |
| INPR | INPR | 115.1 | 120 | 4.3% |
| STMA | STMA | 94.9 | 103 | 3.6% |
| BVRR | BVRR | 65.8 | 314 | 2.5% |
Strategic Rail Corridors (STRACNET) in Idaho
The Strategic Rail Corridor Network (STRACNET) is a Department of Defense designation for rail lines essential to the rapid mobilization of military forces and equipment. Idaho has 632 STRACNET miles — about 24% of the state’s active rail network. STRACNET segments are highlighted with a thicker dashed outline on the map above.
Passenger Rail in Idaho
Idaho has 100 miles of Amtrak passenger service and a total of 150 miles of all passenger track when commuter rail, light rail, and tourist routes are counted. The interactive map highlights every passenger-service segment in blue.
Major Operating Divisions
Class I railroads carve Idaho into named operating divisions, each managing dispatching, crews, and maintenance for a region of track:
| Division | Track Miles |
|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | 531 |
| Pacific Northwest | 360 |
| Idaho | 243 |
| Southern | 152 |
| Northern | 113 |
| Montana | 94 |
| Northwest | 18 |
| Washington | 2 |
Largest Rail Yards in Idaho
The largest classification, intermodal, and switching yards in Idaho (ranked by track mileage in the NTAD dataset):
| Yard | Track Miles |
|---|---|
| Pocatello | 62.4 |
| Nampa | 40.1 |
| Hauser | 31.1 |
| Montpelier | 9.3 |
| St Maries | 8.7 |
| West Pocatello Storage | 7.4 |
| Idaho Falls | 6.1 |
| Forebay | 6.0 |
| Lewiston | 6.0 |
| Minidoka | 5.2 |
Rail in Neighboring States
Rail networks in Idaho connect directly into the systems of every land-bordering state. Explore the rail network in each:
- Montana Railroad Map
- Nevada Railroad Map
- Oregon Railroad Map
- Utah Railroad Map
- Washington Railroad Map
- Wyoming Railroad Map
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles of railroad are in
Idaho has 2,660 miles of active railroad track across 4,129 segments, according to the USDOT National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) North American Rail Network dataset.
Which Class I railroads operate in
2 Class I freight railroads operate in Idaho: Union Pacific, BNSF Railway. Around 11 additional regional and shortline railroads operate the remaining track.
What is STRACNET and how much of it is in
STRACNET (Strategic Rail Corridor Network) is the U.S. Department of Defense designation for rail lines essential to military mobilization. Idaho has 632 STRACNET miles — about 24% of the state’s total rail network.
Does Idaho have passenger rail?
Yes. 100 miles of Amtrak passenger track operate in Idaho, plus additional commuter and tourist routes for a total of 150 miles of passenger service.
View all 140,000+ miles of US rail on the national interactive map
