CN, CSX and UP considered top 500 global brands again in 2014

Three Class Is are listed again on Brand Finance plc's rankings of the top 500 most valuable global brands, but they all tumbled a bit on the 2014 list.

Union Pacific Railroad is ranked No. 199 versus last year's 181st position, CN is ranked No. 472 versus last year's 426th spot and CSX Corp. is ranked No. 480 versus last year's 413th ranking.

Other transportation companies on the 2014 list include United Parcel Service, up one spot to No. 48; FedEx, up five spots to No. 82; and Maersk, up 33 spots to No. 372.

A brand valuation consultant based in London, Brand Finance has ranked global brands since 2007. The website rates enterprises based on a system called the "Brand Strength Index, which analyzes brands' risks and future potential, and assigns them scores that resemble a credit rating.