COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 482111

Passenger Railways, Line-Haul

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

28companies1881–1997founding years26still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedCanadian Pacific Railway LimitedFoundedCanadian Pacific Railway Limited
1881
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedTokyu Corporation
1922
FoundedOdakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedThe St. Joe CompanyFoundedThe St. Joe Company
1936
FoundedSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Washington Companies
1964
FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1965
FoundedUnion Pacific CorporationFoundedUnion Pacific Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedNorfolk Southern CorporationFoundedStagecoach Holdings plc
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFlorida East Coast Industries, Inc.FoundedFlorida East Coast Industries, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEurotunnel Group
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedGrupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
1996
FoundedRéseau Ferré de France
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited →
Active · founded 1881 · Canada
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited is the smallest of the six major North American railways, known as Class 1 railways.
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited →
Active · founded 1881 · Canada
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited is the smallest of the six major North American railways, known as Class 1 railways.
Tokyu Corporation →
Active · founded 1922 · Japan
Tokyu Corporation operates railways, freight companies, bus companies, and a domestic airline in Japan.
Tokyu Corporation →
Active · founded 1922 · Japan
Tokyu Corporation operates railways, freight companies, bus companies, and a domestic airline in Japan.
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1923 · Japan
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1923 · Japan
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
The St. Joe Company →
Active · founded 1936
The St.
The St. Joe Company →
Active · founded 1936
The St.
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français →
Active · founded 1938 · France
The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) is the state-owned railroad of France.
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français →
Active · founded 1938 · France
The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) is the state-owned railroad of France.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Union Pacific Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Union Pacific Corporation (UP) is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is Union Pacific Railroad…
Union Pacific Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Union Pacific Corporation (UP) is a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is Union Pacific Railroad…
Norfolk Southern Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) is a holding company that owns and operates one of the nation's biggest railroad…
Norfolk Southern Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) is a holding company that owns and operates one of the nation's biggest railroad…
Stagecoach Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1980 · United Kingdom
Stagecoach Holdings plc has ridden the deregulation of the United Kingdom's bus and rail routes to become one of the…
Stagecoach Holdings plc →
Active · founded 1980 · United Kingdom
Stagecoach Holdings plc has ridden the deregulation of the United Kingdom's bus and rail routes to become one of the…
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
In 2000, Amtrak reached an agreement to use FECR's coastal tracks to begin a passenger service.
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
In 2000, Amtrak reached an agreement to use FECR's coastal tracks to begin a passenger service.
Eurotunnel Group →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
The Eurotunnel Group includes Eurotunnel plc, which, through its Eurotunnel subsidiaries, was established to design,…
Eurotunnel Group →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
The Eurotunnel Group includes Eurotunnel plc, which, through its Eurotunnel subsidiaries, was established to design,…
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1996 · Mexico
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A.
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1996 · Mexico
Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana, S.A.
Réseau Ferré de France →
Defunct · founded 1997 · France
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) owns France's railroad infrastructure.
Réseau Ferré de France →
Defunct · founded 1997 · France
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) owns France's railroad infrastructure.
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