Since the early 1800s, the rail industry has been the true workhorse of the transportation sector. And in the earliest days, that was quite literally true: before the steam locomotive, rail cars were pulled by actual workhorses. Of course, cars, trucks, and planes play a key role. But, when it comes to space efficiency in dense areas or cost efficiency across long distances, rail transport is very hard to beat. Rail is used worldwide, in different settings (underneath major cities and across wide-open planes), and for different purposes (moving passengers and moving freight). The specifics of how rail ecosystems work and what types of participants are involved can vary widely across these different contexts.
In this primer, we break it all down: the major rail segments, the steps in the value chain, the key participants, and the different models. We’ll explain what goes into infrastructure management, railway operations, and even making the rolling stock (the trains themselves). Lastly, we’ll cover the key trends facing the industry.
