As of February 2022, a total of five railroads operated in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Freight services are largely operated by the Providence and Worcester Railroad, which interchanges with the state's only other freight railroad, the Seaview Transportation Company, a switching and terminal railroad serving the Port of Davisville. Passenger service is provided along Rhode Island's portion of the Northeast Corridor by Amtrak, supplemented by MBTA Commuter Rail service from Wickford Junction northbound towards Boston. Rhode Island is also home to one heritage railroad, the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad, which operates excursions on a segment of track on Aquidneck Island which is disconnected from the rest of the United States rail network.
Freight carriers +NameReporting MarkImagePredecessor(s)Starting YearDescriptionOwnerReferenceProvidence and Worcester RailroadPW, PWRZ1844 (originally) 1973 (current system)Originally founded in 1844, was leased by the New Haven in 1892 but continued to exist as a company. Split from NH successor Penn Central in 1973. Took over all Conrail operations in Rhode Island in 1982. Has trackage rights on the Northeast Corridor, in addition to owning its main line from Providence to the Massachusetts state line and a branch to East Providence.Genesee & WyomingSeaview Transportation CompanySVTXUnited States Navy1978Formed in 1978 to continue freight service for customers in and around Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, formerly operated by the United States Navy. Serves a major industrial park, interchanges with the Providence and Worcester.Independent
Passenger carriers
+NameReporting MarkImagePredecessor(s)Starting YearDescriptionOwnerReferenceAmtrakAMTKPenn Central1971National intercity passenger railroad of the United States. Took over intercity passenger service from Penn Central starting May 1, 1971. As of February 2022, operates the Northeast Regional and Acela in Rhode Island.Federal government of the United StatesMBTA Commuter RailMBTXPenn Central1976The MBTA began subsidizing Rhode Island service on the Providence/Stoughton Line in 1976, and purchased the line's rolling stock from Penn Central that year. As of February 2022, service operates to and from Boston to a southern terminus at Wickford Junction.Massachusetts Department of TransportationNewport and Narragansett Bay RailroadNewport Dinner Train Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railroad2014Heritage railroad operating excursions on Aquidneck Island. The railroad operates several different heritage trains, and also offers railbike rides.Seaview Transportation Company
Defunct railroads NameMarkSystemThis is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.FromToSuccessorDescriptionReferenceBoston, Hartford and Erie RailroadNH18651874New York and New England RailroadBoston and Providence RailroadNH18341888New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadConsolidated Rail CorporationCR19761982Providence and Worcester RailroadInherited Penn Central's operations in Rhode Island; all Rhode Island lines were sold to P&W in 1982.Fall River, Warren and Providence RailroadNH18621892Old Colony RailroadHartford, Providence and Fishkill RailroadNH18491879New York and New England RailroadMoshassuck Valley RailroadMOV18741982Providence and Worcester RailroadNarragansett Pier RailroadNAPNH18681981N/ANew England RailroadNH18951908New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNew York and Boston RailroadNH18531865Boston, Hartford and Erie RailroadNew York and New England RailroadNH18731895New England RailroadNew York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNHNH18931969Penn Central Transportation CompanyNew York, Providence and Boston RailroadNH18321893New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNew York, Providence and Boston and Old Colony Railroad Terminal CompanyNH18911904Providence Terminal CompanyNewport and Fall River RailroadNH18461863Old Colony and Newport RailwayNewport and Wickford Railroad and Steamboat CompanyNH18701909New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadOld Colony RailroadNH18721947New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadOld Colony and Newport RailwayNH18631872Old Colony RailroadPawtuxet Valley RailroadNH18681907New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadPenn Central Transportation CompanyPC19691976Consolidated Rail CorporationPontiac Branch RailroadNH18751885New York, Providence and Boston RailroadProvidence and Bristol RailroadNH18501852Providence, Warren and Bristol RailroadProvidence and Plainfield RailroadNH18461851Hartford, Providence and Fishkill RailroadProvidence and Springfield RailroadNH18721905New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadProvidence Terminal CompanyNH19041906New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadProvidence, Warren and Bristol RailroadNH18521947New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadRhode Island CompanyNH19021919United Electric RailwaysPrimary an electric railway company; leased the Narragansett Pier Railroad from 1911 to 1918Rhode Island Central RailroadNH18791880New York, Providence and Boston RailroadRhode Island and Massachusetts RailroadNH18721907New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadRhode Island Mining RailroadNH18651872Rhode Island and Massachusetts RailroadSeekonk Branch RailroadNH18361839Boston and Providence RailroadWas located in what was part of Massachusetts before the boundary was moved in 1862Warren and Fall River RailroadNH18561862Fall River, Warren and Providence RailroadWarwick RailroadNH18731880New York, Providence and Boston RailroadBuilt a railroad from Cranston to Oakland Beach, shut down in 1879 and taken over by the NYP&B as a subsidiary.Warwick RailwayWRWK19491982Providence and Worcester RailroadTook over the former Warwick Railroad line from United Electric Railways in 1949. Operated electric locomotives until 1952, provided freight service on a 1 mile length of track until 1982.Wickford RailroadNH18641870Newport and Wickford Railroad and Steamboat CompanyWood River Branch RailroadNH18721947N/AAbandoned outright, with no successor.Woonasquatucket RailroadNH18571872Providence and Springfield RailroadWoonsocket and Pascoag RailroadNH18871907New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadWoonsocket Union RailroadNH18501853New York and Boston Railroad
Electric
Bay State Street Railway Fall River and Stone Bridge Street Railway Groton and Stonington Street Railway Middletown and Portsmouth Street Railway Newport and Fall River Street Railway Newport and Providence Railway Newport Street Railway Norwich and Westerly Railway Old Colony Street Railway Pawcatuck Valley Railway Pawtucket Street Railway Providence Cable Tramway Company (also a cable-car line) Providence and Danielson Railway Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Rhode Island Company Rhode Island Suburban Railway Sea View Railroad Union Railroad United Electric Railways Warwick Railway
Not completed Southern New England Railway
Bibliography
Notes
References
See also List of railroad lines in Rhode Island (a list of all corridors that have existed, not dealing with ownership changes)