Portal:Oregon/Selected article/73

Rail transportation is an important element of the transportation network in the state of Oregon. Rail has existed in the state in some form since 1855, and the state was a pioneer in development of electric railway systems. While the automobile has displaced many uses of rail in the state (as elsewhere), rail remains a key means of moving passengers and freight, both within the state and to points beyond its borders. As of 2004, the state of Oregon has over 2,400 route-miles (3,900 km) of track, and 170 miles (274 km) of railroad right-of-way after peaking in the 1930s at about 4,350 miles (7,001 km) of track. Oregon is served by two Class 1 railroads (BNSF Railway & Union Pacific Railroad), which account for over 1100 miles (1,770 km) of trackage, and over twenty Class 2 and Class 3 operators. Three Amtrak routes serve the state, primarily through the Willamette Valley and south-central Oregon. Rail is a key element of the mass transit system in the city of Portland and surrounding communities. These include MAX Light Rail, the Westside Express Service commuter rail, and the Portland Streetcar. There are also numerous tourist railways operated in the state.