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As of Sept. 30, U.S. railroads employed 234,000 people — the industry’s highest employment level in four years and 6,000 more workers than roads employed in September 2004, according to the Railroad Retirement Board.

Class Is’ ranks increased 3.6 percent to 164,000 workers compared with September 2004, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. Large roads increased train and engine crews 5.2 percent to about 69,000; maintenance-of-way and structures crews, 1.2 percent to more than 34,000; and maintenance of equipment and stores crews, 3.9 percent to about 30,000.

Through the third quarter, Class I employment levels increased every month except for one, according to the STB.