In United States railroading, the term national rail network, sometimes termed "U.S. rail network",[1] refers to the entire network of interconnected standard gauge rail lines in North America.[2][3][4][5] It does not include most subway or light rail lines. Federal Railroad Administration regulations require passenger cars used on the national rail network to be heavy and strong enough to protect riders in case of collision with freight trains.

1890 map of the national rail network

References

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  1. ^ Haley, Michael T. (February 6, 2007). "The Security of Our Nation's Passenger and Freight Railroad Network". Transportation.gov. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Wayland, Joshua (December 6, 2018). "National Rail Network Map". ArcGIS. United States Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Cambridge Systematics, Inc. (September 2007). "National Rail Freight Infrastructure Capacity and Investment Study" (PDF). Cambridge, MA. p. A-3. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "American Railroads in the 20th Century". National Museum of American History. Smithsonian Institution. July 20, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "NTAD: National Rail Network 1:2,000,000 (node)". NC State University Libraries. May 4, 2004. Retrieved December 16, 2019.