All Aboard: Discover the Rail Lines Still Powering Through North Dakota

While on my way home from work the other day, I got stopped by a train. At first, I was frustrated because, of course, I would get stopped by a long freight train. I had a long day, and wasn't feeling very patient.

After I accepted my circumstance and brushed it off, I started staring at the train as it went by. It got me curious. What was in the train? How many trains run through North Dakota? Several questions popped into my head.

Isn't it fascinating that in 2025, we're still using trains to get goods from one end of the country to the other? The first train was made in 1804, so that's more than 200 years of us relying on the railway system.

If you are a train enthusiast, you might already know this, but there are a lot of different trains that run through the state of North Dakota.

First, let's start with train stations. North Dakota has seven destinations accessible by train. In the state, there are AMTRAK stations in Grand Forks, Fargo, Devils Lake, Stanley, Williston, Rugby, and Minot. Sadly, Bismarck does not have an AMTRAK station.

What about the freight trains?

According to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, there are several freight trains that run through our state.

Dakota Missouri Valley Western Railroad (DMVW)

According to Trains.com, DMVW mainly transports corn, fertilizer and lumber.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)

This train transports everything from coal to cars to agricultural products. According to CPKCR.com, this railway has a critical role in transporting goods across North America.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF)

According to the BNSF website, this railway transports everything from alcohol and food to grain, coal, electronics, and appliances.

Northern Plains Railroad (NPR)

According to the railway's website, this railway transports industrial products, wheat and and corn. This railway operates over 344 miles of track across North Dakota and Minnesota.

Red River Valley & Western (RRVW)

According to the RRVW website, this railway transports gravel, feed products, steel, sugar, and wind energy equipment.

Which ones have you seen pass through our state? What do you think they were carrying?