Rail Freight Cost from San Francisco, CA to Manhattan, NY for Grain

Grain (corn, wheat, soybeans)
Estimated Tariff
$19,791
per car (all-in)
Per Hundredweight
989.6¢
cents per cwt
Rail Miles
3,169
routed via AMTK +13
Primary Carrier
AMTK
14-carrier interline

FSC factors as of June 2026 · URCS Phase III + carrier-published mileage FSC

Route Map

Map of rail route from San Francisco, CA to Manhattan, NY showing AMTK → BNSF → BRC → CSAO → CSXT → IHB → JPBX → LI → NJT → NS → NYNJ → RJCL → SCIH → UP

Rail route · 3,169 mi · AMTK → BNSF → BRC → CSAO → CSXT → IHB → JPBX → LI → NJT → NS → NYNJ → RJCL → SCIH → UP

About this lane

The San Francisco, CA-Manhattan, NY rail corridor, primarily served by Amtrak (AMTK), plays a crucial role in connecting major urban centers across the United States. This corridor facilitates significant freight and passenger traffic, contributing to economic activity and regional connectivity. A notable routing detail includes the interchange at Chicago, which serves as a key hub for transferring freight between various rail networks.

Per-Leg Tariff Breakdown

Segment Carrier Miles Line-Haul Fuel Surcharge Total
Starting segment UP 2,238 $8,342 $1,567 $9,908
Short-line carrier JPBX (short-line) 26 $500 $18 $518
Short-line carrier BRC (short-line) 16 $500 $11 $511
Short-line carrier IHB (short-line) 9 $500 $6 $506
Middle segment 1 CSXT 318 $1,200 $149 $1,349
Middle segment 2 NS 499 $1,862 $390 $2,251
Short-line carrier NJT (short-line) 15 $500 $12 $512
Short-line carrier CSAO (short-line) 14 $500 $11 $511
Short-line carrier RJCL (short-line) 12 $500 $9 $509
Short-line carrier LI (short-line) 11 $500 $9 $509
Short-line carrier NYNJ (short-line) 5 $500 $4 $504
Ending segment CSXT 4 $1,200 $2 $1,202
Short-line carrier AMTK (short-line) 2 $500 $1 $501
Interchange fee (2 interchanges) $500
Estimated Tariff Total 3,169 $17,103 $2,188 $19,791

Run this lane through our calculator

Tweak weight, car type, or year and see how the rate moves. Or talk to us about your real shipment — we coordinate carload and unit-train moves for grain and other bulk commodities.

Comparable Lanes

Other grain corridors near this route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to ship grain by rail from San Francisco to Manhattan?

Rail transit on this corridor typically falls in the 10-16 day range door-to-door, depending on car supply, interchange dwell, and any required transload. Steel Wheel Logistics does not publish guaranteed transits because every actual move depends on current network conditions and your specific origin and destination facilities.

What does the fuel surcharge add on a San Francisco to Manhattan rail move?

Each Class I publishes a mileage-based fuel surcharge (FSC) tied to the EIA highway-diesel fuel index. AMTK and any participating carriers each apply their own published cents-per-mile factor to the miles they handle. FSC totals on this lane re-derive monthly as fuel prices move; the figure shown is current as of the date stamped in the hero card above.

Does Steel Wheel Logistics handle grain moves?

Yes. We coordinate grain rail freight on single-line and interline routings across the U.S. Class I network, working directly with the carriers and any required short-line or transload partners. Contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment — we do not auto-issue binding quotes; every move is priced after lane and equipment review.

What car type is used for this kind of move?

Grain typically moves in covered hopper equipment. Actual car selection depends on the specific product spec, packaging, loading and unloading conditions at origin and destination, and current car-supply on the chosen carrier. We help shippers source the right equipment as part of the lane setup.

Is rail more cost-effective than truck on the San Francisco-Manhattan corridor?

At 3,169 rail miles, rail typically wins on bulk moves at this distance — rail's per-ton-mile cost compresses sharply above ~500 miles and even more sharply at unit-train volumes. Use our rail-vs-truck comparison tool to model specific volumes side-by-side, and remember to account for transload, drayage, and demurrage on the rail side.

Indicative estimate only. Steel Wheel Logistics does not guarantee rates. Actual pricing varies by railroad, equipment availability, contract terms, fuel-surcharge revisions, and lane conditions on the day of move. Use this page as a planning ballpark and contact us for a discussion of your specific shipment.