Railroad Equipment Manufacturing

The US railroad equipment manufacturing industry includes about 200 companies with combined annual revenue of $9 billion. Major railcar companies include Trinity Industries and Greenbrier; Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) and GE are the only two major US locomotive manufacturers. The railroad equipment ("rolling stock") industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for nearly 90 percent of revenue.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for freight rolling stock is driven by fuel prices, as high gas prices shift freight transport from trucks to rail. Demand for passenger rail rolling stock is driven by public investment in regional rail transportation. The profitability of individual companies depends on securing long-term sales contracts with railroad companies and leasing agencies. Large companies have advantages in manufacturing economies of scale. Small companies can compete effectively through consulting services and custom-building locomotive and passenger railcars. The industry is highly capital-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is $350,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products are new and rebuilt locomotives (about 30 percent of revenue); new and rebuilt freight, passenger, street, and rapid-transit cars (about 35 percent); and railroad parts and accessories (about 25 percent). Other products include railroad vehicles, airbrakes, and rail maintenance equipment, such as ballast spreaders and rail layers.

Major freight car producers deliver around 5,000 to 15,000 new railcars annually. Freight rail companies tend to specialize in one or two types of cars, such as hoppers, tanks, auto carriers, or intermodal shippers. The two major ...