New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway

What New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway does

The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW) is a Class III regional freight railroad founded in 1881 and headquartered in Cooperstown, NY. The company operates over 400 miles of track across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with 286,000-pound gross weight capability and Plate F clearance on all lines. NYSW connects with two Class I railroads — CSX Transportation (interchanges at Syracuse, Utica, and North Bergen) and Norfolk Southern (interchanges at Binghamton and Marion) — providing shippers with access to the national rail network. It serves 85+ customers transporting feed ingredients, lumber, building materials, chemicals, aggregates, plastics, food products, paper products, motor vehicles, and metals.

NYSW's core offering is a unified rail transportation service integrated with a network of nine bulk transfer and distribution facilities that enable rail-to-truck transloading. Key terminals include North Bergen, NJ (ISO 9001 certified auto facility operated by SBS Auto scoring 98.91% on its most recent AAR audit), Sparta, NJ (food-grade bulk transfer via SBS Sparta with A.I.B. superior rating, HACCP/GMP/SQF/Kosher certifications, plus chemical terminals operated by Heniff Transportation and Diversified CPC International and propane distribution by Superior Plus Energy), Saddle Brook, NJ (250+ rail car capacity serving Modern Transportation and Plastic Express), Oakland, NJ (liquid food-grade facility operated by Carry Transit), Rochelle Park, NJ (palletized cross-dock operated by Freight Connections), Binghamton, NY, Cortland, NY, and Apulia Station, NY. Revenue is generated through tariff-based freight rates, switching charges, and a usage-based Mileage Based Fuel Surcharge (MBFSC) program. The company also offers industrial development services including site location, market feasibility, design, engineering, government relations, and funding assistance to attract rail-served industrial tenants. NYSW is privately held with no public revenue disclosure and is currently operating with 101–250 employees.

Name

New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway

Legal name

The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway

Website

https://nysw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway is a Class III regional freight railroad operating 400+ miles of track in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, serving 85+ industrial and bulk commodity shippers through rail transportation and a network of nine transload facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Freight Transportation

NAICS

Short Line Railroads (482112)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)

akta.pro primary industry

Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services (TLADACAK)

Keywords

• Freight rail transportation
• Regional rail services
• Bulk transload facilities
• Rail logistics solutions
• Class III railroad

Headquarters

HQ city

Cooperstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Freight Transportation Services: Rail freight transportation of commodities including feed ingredients, lumber, building materials, chemicals, aggregates, plastics, food products, paper products, motor vehicles, and metals. Revenue is generated through tariff-based rates and switching charges.
2. Mileage Based Fuel Surcharge (MBFSC): Fuel surcharge applied to linehaul freight rates, published in NYSW 8001-J tariff Item 800, effective April 23, 2007. Surcharge varies monthly based on HDF average fuel prices.
3. Transload and Terminal Services: Revenue from operating bulk transfer and distribution facilities, including rail-truck transfer, warehousing, and handling services provided at various terminal locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

NYSW operates a Class III regional freight railroad spanning over 400 miles of track in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, transporting commodities such as feed ingredients, lumber, building materials, chemicals, aggregates, plastics, food products, paper products, motor vehicles, and metals for more than 85 customers. The railroad is 286,000-pound gross weight capable (Plate F) on all lines and interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. It supplements rail haul with a network of bulk transfer and distribution facilities offering rail-to-truck transloading, plus industrial development services for site location and expansion.

Product overview

New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW) is a Class III regional freight railroad offering a unified rail transportation service with integrated logistics solutions. The core product is freight rail transportation operating over 400+ miles of track in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This is supported by a network of bulk transfer and distribution facilities at North Bergen, Little Ferry Yard, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, Oakland, Sparta, Binghamton, Cortland, and Apulia Station, enabling rail-to-truck transloading of diverse commodities. Additional services include industrial development assistance for customers seeking to establish facilities along NYSW lines, and a mileage-based fuel surcharge program (MBFSC). The company connects with Class I railroads CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern for extended network reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freight Rail Transportation Services Regional Class III freight railroad providing rail transportation services over 400+ miles of track in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with 286,000-pound gross weight capability (Plate F) on all lines. Serves over 85 customers and transports feed ingredients, lumber, building materials, chemicals, aggregates, plastics, food products, paper products, motor vehicles, and metals, with interchange access to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.
• Bulk Transfer / Distribution Facilities Network of rail-to-truck transload and distribution facilities for industrial shippers, spanning nine sites in Metropolitan New York and upstate New York. Handles lumber, plastics, liquid and dry food products, chemicals, and motor vehicles, with ISO 9001-certified auto handling at North Bergen and A.I.B.-rated, HACCP, GMP, and SQF-certified food-grade transload at Sparta, NJ. Off-rail freight customers can ship and receive goods at competitive freight rates with access to major highways.
• Industrial Development Services Site location, market feasibility, design, engineering, government relations, and funding-sourcing assistance for companies seeking to locate or expand facilities along NYSW rail lines. Listed industrial properties include Sparta Township NJ, Saddle Brook NJ, Paterson NJ, Bogota NJ, and Cortland NY.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.91% AAR audit score for auto terminal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CSX TransportationcoreTechnology or IntegrationClass I railroad connection for interchanging freight. Interchanges at Syracuse (SYRAC) NY and North Bergen (NBERG) NJ. Provides access to CSX's national rail network.
• Norfolk SoutherncoreTechnology or IntegrationClass I railroad connection for interchanging freight. Interchanges at Binghamton (BING) NY and Marion Interchange (MINTG) NJ. Provides access to Norfolk Southern's national rail network.
• Susquehanna Bulk Systems (SBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates multiple bulk transfer facilities on NYSW lines including SBS-Lumber at North Bergen, SBS-Auto at North Bergen, and SBS-Sparta food-grade facility. A key operational partner for NYSW transload services.
• Carry TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates liquid food-grade bulk transfer facility at Oakland NJ on NYSW lines. National leader in dry and liquid bulk transportation of food grade and pharmaceutical products.
• Freight ConnectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates rail/truck cross-dock facility at Rochelle Park NJ dedicated to palletized cargo. Family-owned business operating for 30 years offering Truckload (TL), Less-than-truckload (LTL), consolidating, warehousing and distribution.
• Modern TransportationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides product transfer and trucking services at Saddle Brook NJ terminal. Focused on transportation solutions in safest, most professional and efficient manner.
• Plastic ExpressmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides product transfer and trucking services at Saddle Brook NJ terminal. Dedicated to meeting bulk trucking, bulk terminal, packaging, and warehousing needs of plastic industry.
• Heniff TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates chemical rail/truck transfer terminal at Sparta NJ with 34 railcar spots (8 with steam heating), bonded and grounded for flammable chemicals. Parent company of Carry Transit.
• Diversified CPC InternationalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry leader in production and distribution of propellants, refrigerants and specialty gas products. Operates rail/truck terminal at Sparta NJ. Awarded NYS&W with Excellence in Partnership Award in 2022.
• Superior Plus EnergymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates propane/LPG distribution terminal at Sparta NJ.
• Delaware ExpressmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates a rail/truck transfer facility at Binghamton NY dedicated to plastics.
• Resources Warehouse and TruckingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned business operating for over 30 years providing transportation and logistics services spanning rail, trucking and marine. Shares property border with NYSW at North Bergen NJ. Offers trucking, warehousing, terminal services, and domestic/international shipping.
• CSX TransportationcoreTechnology or IntegrationOwner of Little Ferry Yard property in Ridgefield NJ. NYSW provides rail service at the property.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Large publicly held short-line and regional railroad operator in North America. Directly comparable as a multi-region Class II/III operator running both line-haul and switching services with a similar customer base of industrial and bulk commodity shippers.
• Norfolk Southern: Class I railroad with which NYSW interchanges; serves the broader Northeast and mid-Atlantic. Comparable as a freight rail operator in NY/NJ/PA, though at a fundamentally different scale, with NYSW functioning as a feeder into the NS network.
• Watco Companies: Privately held operator of 40+ short-line railroads plus transload, terminal, and rail-served industrial development services in the U.S. Comparable across both line-haul short-line operations and integrated logistics/transload, though significantly larger and more diversified geographically.
• Delaware & Hudson Railway (CPKC): Historic Northeast U.S. freight railroad, now part of CPKC, operating in New York and Pennsylvania. Operates in the same Northeast corridor with overlapping interchanges and shipper base, though now part of a Class I system.

Emerging players

• GATX Corporation: Railcar leasing and fleet management company serving industrial shippers across North America. Comparable as a rail-adjacent service provider to bulk commodity and chemical shippers that overlap NYSW's customer base, though GATX owns the cars rather than operates track.

Direct peers

• New York & Atlantic Railway: Short-line railroad operating on Long Island Rail Road trackage in the New York metro area, providing freight service and interchange with Class I partners. Direct Northeast regional peer with shared industrial customer base.
• R.J. Corman Railroad Group: Operates multiple short-line and regional railroads across the eastern and central U.S., with similar line-haul plus transload and industrial development service offerings. Closest direct peer in business model and scale to NYSW.
• Iowa Interstate Railroad: Class II regional railroad operating between Chicago and the Midwest with interchanges to multiple Class I partners. Comparable in scale, dual-Class I interchange structure, and dedicated industrial development service model.
• Anacostia Rail Holdings: Holds and operates a portfolio of short-line and regional railroads in the eastern U.S. including the New York & Atlantic Railway, which directly serves the New York market overlapping NYSW's territory and customer segments.
• Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad: Pennsylvania-based regional freight railroad operating 300+ miles of track with diverse commodity mix including lumber, plastics, chemicals, and food products. Highly comparable in scale, geography (PA/NJ), and commodity mix to NYSW.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NYSWR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-susquehanna-and-western-railway-corporation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway