It's Full Steam Ahead in 2021 for These 4 Railroad Stocks UNP – The railroad industry has witnessed a significant decrease in rail traffic in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, because a V-shaped economic recovery is expected this year, we think companies like Union Pacific (UNP), Canadian National Railway (CNI), CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) should deliver stellar results. Jan 14, 2021 The railroad industry is one of the major components of the U.S. transportation sector and is closely tied to the economy’s growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the railroad industry, with a large decrease in traffic due to disruptions in supply and value chains. Freight transportation virtually came to a standstill during the initial days of the pandemic, affecting companies operating in this sector. The global freight market declined at a CAGR of 2.5% last year.