Transportation - Rail

Northwest Ohio is one of the leading rail centers in the United States. Several of the largest railroad systems provide service to major industrial and manufacturing areas and to three Lake Erie Ports, with both direct and interline service to other parts of the region. All railroad companies are able to ship freight anywhere in North America through interconnecting lines and operating agreements.

The Toledo area is centrally located on the eastern railroad network. Four major freight railroads move freight through the region. With several rail yards loading petroleum products, automotive parts, completed automobiles, bulk and break-bulk cargo, and food products, Toledo ranks as one of the top five rail hubs in the U.S. Norfolk/Southern’s Chicago-Cleveland mainline, the busiest freight artery east of Chicago, passes through Toledo, as does CSX Transportation's primary route to Detroit. The Chicago mains of CSX and Norfolk Southern traverse northwest Ohio further south, intersecting in Fostoria.

Passenger Rail Services

Up to 100,000 passengers pass through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza each year, making it Ohio’s busiest passenger rail hub. In 1996, the Port Authority completed an $8.5 million renovation of the historic facility and it now serves as a modern, intermodal train and bus terminal and office complex.
Toledo is served by four trains daily to Chicago and several destinations to the east including Washington, D.C., Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. Contact Amtrak to book your reservation.

Area Railroad Map

Informative Links