![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Class1rr.png/640px-Class1rr.png&w=640&q=50)
Railroad classes
national classification of railways / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the United States, railroads are Class I, II, or III, depending on how big they are. The Surface Transportation Board decides how big the railroads need to be to be in the classes.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Class1rr.png/320px-Class1rr.png)
There are six US Class I freight railroad companies. Canada has two Class I freight railroads. Both of the Canadian companies have trackage in the US. Mexico has two Class I freight railroads, one with trackage in the US. The national passenger railroads in the US and Canada, Amtrak and Via Rail, are both Class I.