West Virginia has 2,840 miles of active railroad track across 2,648 segments, operated by 2 Class I freight carriers (CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern) and 17 regional and shortline railroads. Amtrak operates 286 miles of passenger service, and 350 miles — 12% of the network — are designated STRACNET (the U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Rail Corridor Network).
Use the interactive West Virginia 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 West Virginia to every other state.
West Virginia Rail Network by the Numbers
- 2,840 total track miles across 2,648 segments (USDOT NTAD)
- 2 Class I freight railroads operate in West Virginia: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern
- 286 miles of Amtrak passenger track; 357 total miles of passenger service when commuter and tourist routes are included
- 350 miles classified as STRACNET — strategic military rail corridors (12% of the state network)
- 2,341 miles of single-track main line; 492 miles of double track
- 17 regional and shortline railroads operate the remaining track
Class I and Major Freight Railroads in West Virginia
West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSX Transportation | CSXT | 1,420.7 | 1,371 | 50.0% |
| Norfolk Southern | NS | 705.1 | 626 | 24.8% |
| KNWA | KNWA | 221.8 | 281 | 7.8% |
| AO | AO | 151.4 | 118 | 5.3% |
| WVC | WVC | 100.0 | 35 | 3.5% |
| ELKR | ELKR | 69.0 | 27 | 2.4% |
| SBVR | SBVR | 56.1 | 48 | 2.0% |
Strategic Rail Corridors (STRACNET) in West Virginia
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. West Virginia has 350 STRACNET miles — about 12% of the state’s active rail network. STRACNET segments are highlighted with a thicker dashed outline on the map above.
Passenger Rail in West Virginia
West Virginia has 286 miles of Amtrak passenger service and a total of 357 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 West Virginia into named operating divisions, each managing dispatching, crews, and maintenance for a region of track:
| Division | Track Miles |
|---|---|
| Central | 509 |
| Southern West | 392 |
| Blue Ridge | 352 |
| Southern East | 230 |
| Pocahontas | 140 |
| Dearborn | 122 |
| Pittsburgh | 78 |
| Mo | 75 |
| Baltimore | 60 |
| Eastern | 56 |
Largest Rail Yards in West Virginia
The largest classification, intermodal, and switching yards in West Virginia (ranked by track mileage in the NTAD dataset):
| Yard | Track Miles |
|---|---|
| Bluefield | 15.0 |
| Williamson | 12.8 |
| Huntington | 10.5 |
| Peach Creek | 9.3 |
| Elmore | 7.2 |
| Keyser | 7.2 |
| Grafton | 5.6 |
| Dickinson | 4.8 |
| Coil | 4.7 |
| Danville | 4.7 |
Rail in Neighboring States
Rail networks in West Virginia connect directly into the systems of every land-bordering state. Explore the rail network in each:
- Kentucky Railroad Map
- Maryland Railroad Map
- Ohio Railroad Map
- Pennsylvania Railroad Map
- Virginia Railroad Map
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles of railroad are in
West Virginia has 2,840 miles of active railroad track across 2,648 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 West Virginia: CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern. Around 17 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. West Virginia has 350 STRACNET miles — about 12% of the state’s total rail network.
Does West Virginia have passenger rail?
Yes. 286 miles of Amtrak passenger track operate in West Virginia, plus additional commuter and tourist routes for a total of 357 miles of passenger service.
View all 140,000+ miles of US rail on the national interactive map
