Go Rail

What Go Rail does

GoRail is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit transportation advocacy organization founded in 2004 to mobilize community leaders in support of U.S. freight rail policy. It operates a grassroots coalition model that recruits and educates local elected officials, economic development professionals, and community advocates—known as Rail Advocates and Rail Champions—to communicate constituent support for freight rail investment to federal policymakers. GoRail does not charge for its advocacy services; instead, it is funded through financial and operational support from the six North American Class I freight railroads (BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Canadian National, and CPKC) and a network of more than 40 rail supply companies including Wabtec, Progress Rail, Herzog, EVRAZ, and A. Stucki. The Association of American Railroads, the industry's primary trade association, maintains board representation in GoRail, reinforcing its alignment with the freight rail sector.

GoRail's product surface is a portfolio of engagement and education tools rather than a unified software platform. The Rail Grant Hub aggregates federal funding opportunities (CRISI, INFRA, BUILD and other USDOT programs) for state and local leaders. The Rail Champions movement runs on a Quorum.us-powered advocacy platform that enables petition drives and constituent engagement campaigns. The Spur monthly newsletter and the Rail at Work blog deliver policy updates, safety statistics, and economic impact stories. The State by State interactive tool surfaces railroad statistics (freight track miles, GHG savings, truckloads saved) for each of the 50 states and DC, while Rail 101 serves as an educational primer on freight rail's economic, environmental, and safety benefits. Underlying data inputs include Federal Railroad Administration safety statistics, EIA-equivalent emissions data, and AAR industry metrics.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led rather than commercial. Distribution relies on content marketing, the monthly newsletter, social media, webinars, and the annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill (RailDay) where industry representatives meet with Congress. Revenue mechanics are nonprofit sponsorship: Class I railroads and rail supply companies provide financial support, supplemented by grassroots donor contributions, with no pricing model applied to advocacy services or educational resources, all of which are provided free of charge to community leaders and the public.

Name

Go Rail

Legal name

GoRail

Website

https://gorail.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GoRail is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 2004 that mobilizes community leaders nationwide to advocate for U.S. freight rail policy, funded by the six Class I freight railroads and 40+ rail supply companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)

akta.pro primary industry

Track Infrastructure Management & Maintenance (Rails, Sleepers, Ballast, Turnouts) (TLAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rail Civil Structures & Right-of-Way Management (Earthworks, Drainage, Vegetation) (TLAJADAE)

Keywords

• Freight rail advocacy
• Transportation policy
• Grassroots mobilization
• Rail infrastructure education
• Community leadership advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Railroad and Rail Supplier Support: GoRail operates with financial and operational support from U.S. freight railroads (Class I railroads) and rail supply companies. The organization does not charge for its advocacy services; instead, it is funded through industry partnerships and supporter contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GoRail is a non-profit grassroots advocacy organization that mobilizes thousands of community leaders and Rail Champions across the United States to advocate for freight rail policy at the federal level. The organization educates local elected officials and community advocates about the economic, environmental, and safety benefits of freight rail, while providing resources such as the Rail Grant Hub, monthly newsletter (The Spur), state-level impact data, and advocacy tools to support pro-rail policies in Congress.

Product overview

GoRail is a national grassroots advocacy organization founded in 2004 that works with community leaders to advocate for freight rail policy. Rather than a unified software product, GoRail operates as a coalition offering a portfolio of engagement tools: the Rail Grant Hub provides federal funding information; Rail Champions mobilizes advocates; The Spur newsletter delivers monthly updates; State by State offers interactive impact data; and the Rail at Work blog publishes news and policy analysis. These offerings work together to support the organization's mission of educating policymakers and the public about freight rail's economic, environmental, and safety benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rail Champions: A nationwide movement to declare that rail is essential, powered by GoRail.

Products and services

• Rail Grant Hub An online resource hub providing information on federal rail grants (including CRISI, INFRA, BUILD programs), railroad-led community grants, and funding opportunities for state, county, and local leaders to advance rail and infrastructure projects.
• Rail Champions A nationwide advocacy movement powered by GoRail that mobilizes community leaders and individuals to declare rail essential, participate in petition drives (e.g., modern train emoji campaign), and advocate for freight rail policy at the federal level.
• The Spur Newsletter GoRail's monthly email newsletter (The Spur) covering rail grant opportunities, state and federal policy issues, and rail stories from communities across the nation.
• State by State Interactive state-by-state resource showing railroad statistics, freight track miles, GHG saved, truckloads saved, and state-specific rail impact data for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
• Rail at Work (Blog) GoRail's blog featuring news, updates, and stories about freight rail's economic development impact, policy issues, safety advances, innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.
• Rail 101 Educational resource explaining freight rail benefits including economic impact, environmental benefits, and safety statistics for community leaders and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Freight rail reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 75% compared to truck transport
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of American RailroadscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the trade association for the U.S. freight railroad industry. AAR President & CEO Ian Jefferies serves on GoRail's Board of Directors, indicating a close strategic partnership.
• Wabtec CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWabtec is a leading rail equipment manufacturer and supporter of GoRail's rail supply coalition. The company manufactures locomotives, freight cars, and signaling equipment.
• A. Stucki CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA. Stucki Company manufactures railroad freight car components and is a supporter of GoRail's rail supply coalition.
• Progress Rail ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgress Rail, a Caterpillar company, provides rail industry equipment and services and supports GoRail's rail supply coalition.
• Herzog CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerzog Companies provides railroad construction and maintenance services and supports GoRail's rail supply coalition.
• EVRAZ North AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVRAZ North America manufactures steel rail and other steel products for the rail industry, supporting GoRail's rail supply coalition.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRA is the federal agency that regulates and oversees freight rail in the U.S. GoRail works with FRA to educate communities about rail safety, grants, and policy issues. FRA data on rail safety gains is a key source for GoRail's communications.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDOT oversees federal transportation policy and grants. GoRail's Rail Grant Hub provides information about USDOT grant programs including CRISI, INFRA, BUILD, and others that benefit freight rail infrastructure.
• Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLI is a national safety organization dedicated to ending collisions at railroad-highway crossings. OLI received $197,999 in crossing safety awareness grants in partnership with FHWA, featured in GoRail's Rail Grant Hub.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Association of American Railroads (AAR): The principal U.S. freight rail industry trade association. AAR is GoRail's closest counterpart and strategic partner (its CEO sits on GoRail's board), but AAR operates as the direct industry lobbying body while GoRail runs the grassroots/community-facing layer of the same policy agenda.
• American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA): National trade association representing the 600+ U.S. short line and regional railroads. ASLRRA is a direct peer in mission (advocating for freight rail policy in Washington) and audience (federal legislators and regulators), though focused on smaller carriers rather than the community-led grassroots model.
• Railway Supply Institute (RSI): Trade association for the North American rail supply industry (a subset of GoRail's actual supporter base, including Wabtec and Progress Rail). RSI is a direct peer in advocating for rail supply policy and industry investment, complementary to GoRail's grassroots focus.
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA): National advocacy association for public transportation (bus, rail, paratransit). APTA is a direct peer in transportation advocacy structure, federal lobbying on surface transportation authorization, and member-funded coalition model, though focused on passenger rather than freight rail.
• Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI): National non-profit dedicated to railroad-highway grade crossing and trespasser safety education. OLI is a direct peer — and an actual listed GoRail partner — sharing the non-profit, railroad-funded, safety- and education-focused advocacy model.
• American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA): Trade and advocacy association for public port authorities in the Western Hemisphere. AAPA is a direct peer in federal freight infrastructure advocacy, particularly around intermodal freight and federal grant programs (CRISI, INFRA), with a similar member-funded, Washington-DC-based operating model.

Broad incumbents

• American Trucking Associations (ATA): The largest U.S. trucking industry trade association and the principal competitor-mode advocacy body to GoRail on freight modal share policy. ATA is a broad incumbent with overlapping federal advocacy infrastructure (grant programs, state affiliates, grassroots) but advocating for the competing freight mode.
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA): National trade association for the U.S. transportation design and construction industry. ARTBA is a broad incumbent peer operating in the same federal surface transportation authorization and infrastructure grant policy space as GoRail, but advocating for road builders rather than rail.
• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): Largest U.S. industrial trade association representing manufacturers across all sectors. NAM is a broad incumbent peer that engages on supply chain, freight, and infrastructure policy that affects rail customers, providing a much larger but less rail-specific advocacy counterpoint.
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): Association representing state departments of transportation across all modes. AASHTO is a broad incumbent peer in federal surface transportation reauthorization and freight policy, with substantial influence on how federal rail grant funds (CRISI, INFRA, BUILD) flow to state and local applicants — the same audience GoRail mobilizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoRail
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=hE0U70E3yX0
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoRail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://gorail.org/rail-grant-news&title=Rail+Grant+Hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Go Rail