CSX Corporation Key Stats
CSX Corporation is a leading American transportation company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The company operates one of the largest rail networks in the eastern United States, connecting major population centers across 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The holding company owns CSX Transportation, its primary railroad operating subsidiary. CSX moves a wide variety of freight, including coal, chemicals, agricultural products, automotive parts, and intermodal containers. The company competes directly with Norfolk Southern in the eastern United States market, where both railroads share a duopoly on freight rail services.
CSX ranks among Fortune 500 companies and serves hundreds of customers through its rail-based freight transportation services. The company operates approximately 20,000 route miles of track and employs about 23,500 workers, including roughly 17,500 union members. Similar to how FedEx and UPS dominate package delivery, CSX controls a substantial share of eastern freight rail transport.
CSX Corporation History
CSX Corporation Co-founders
CSX Corporation resulted from the 1980 merger of two major railroad holding companies. The leadership of both organizations guided the formation of the new enterprise.
CSX Corporation Competitors
CSX operates in a consolidated freight rail industry with six Class I railroads in North America. The company competes primarily with Norfolk Southern in the eastern United States, while western carriers handle transcontinental shipments through interchange agreements.
| Company | Headquarters | Route Miles | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Pacific | Omaha, NE | 32,100 | Western US |
| BNSF Railway | Fort Worth, TX | 32,500 | Western US |
| Norfolk Southern | Atlanta, GA | 19,500 | Eastern US |
| Canadian National | Montreal, Canada | 20,000 | Canada, Central US |
| Canadian Pacific Kansas City | Calgary, Canada | 20,000 | Canada, Central US, Mexico |
| Amtrak | Washington, DC | 21,400 | Nationwide (Passenger) |
| Kansas City Southern | Kansas City, MO | Merged with CP | Central US, Mexico |
| Genesee & Wyoming | Jacksonville, FL | 13,000 | Short Lines |
| Watco Companies | Pittsburg, KS | 5,100 | Short Lines |
| OmniTRAX | Denver, CO | 3,100 | Short Lines |
CSX Corporation Revenue
CSX generated $14.54 billion in revenue during 2024, representing a slight decline from the previous year. The company’s revenue comes primarily from freight transportation services across merchandise, intermodal, and coal segments.
CSX Corporation Marketcap
CSX maintains a market capitalization of approximately $66.8 billion as of early 2025. The company ranks among the 350 most valuable publicly traded companies globally and trades on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol CSX.
CSX Corporation Acquisitions
CSX has grown through strategic acquisitions that expanded its geographic reach and operational capabilities. The company’s most significant purchase came in 1999 when it jointly acquired Conrail with Norfolk Southern.
The Conrail acquisition added approximately 3,800 route miles to the CSX network, primarily former New York Central Railroad lines. CSX gained access to key northeastern markets including connections to New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. The deal required approval from the Surface Transportation Board and created shared asset areas in Detroit, Philadelphia, and northern New Jersey where both CSX and Norfolk Southern operate.
In 2022, CSX completed its purchase of Pan Am Railways for $601 million. This acquisition extended the network into northern New England, adding rail connections throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and parts of Massachusetts. The purchase included a 50% stake in Pan Am Southern, which is now operated by Berkshire and Eastern Railroad, a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary.
Earlier acquisitions included the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad in 1991, which provided a connection between CSX’s northern and southern rail lines. The company also absorbed Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad assets in 1992 after purchasing key routes. CSX acquired control of various short lines and regional railroads throughout its history to build a comprehensive eastern network.
The 2024 acquisition of Meridian and Bigbee Railroad, jointly with Canadian Pacific Kansas City, created new connections between CSX lines in Alabama and CPKC routes heading west. This purchase demonstrates ongoing efforts to improve interline operations and compete more effectively with trucking. CSX serves many customers in sectors like automotive manufacturing and heavy equipment that require reliable freight transportation.
FAQs
What does CSX stand for?
CSX combines letters from Chessie System (C) and Seaboard (S), with X representing consolidation. The name was originally a placeholder during merger proceedings but became the official corporate identity in 1980.
When was CSX Corporation founded?
CSX Corporation was established on November 1, 1980, through the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries. The combined company united major railroad networks across the eastern United States.
Where is CSX Corporation headquarters?
CSX Corporation headquarters are located in Jacksonville, Florida. The company moved from Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville in 2003. The CSX Transportation Building sits along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville.
How many employees does CSX have?
CSX employs approximately 23,500 workers as of December 2024. About 17,500 employees are union members represented by 12 different rail labor unions that participate in national collective bargaining agreements.
Who is CSX biggest competitor?
Norfolk Southern is the primary competitor for CSX Corporation. Both railroads share a duopoly on freight rail services in the eastern United States. They compete directly for merchandise, intermodal, and coal traffic across overlapping regions.