What is RailMatch?

RailMatch is the new internet-based marketplace for railcar sales, short term leasing and services. RailMatch has been designed to bring the unprecedented reach and cost savings of the Internet to the rail equipment industry, specifically the secondary market for used railcars and related maintenance and customization services. Our goal is to create a single destination site that brings together the major buyers, lessors and sellers of rail equipment in North America. RailMatch will bring substantial savings and efficiencies for rail fleet owners, carriers and shippers.

Here's How it Works:

First go to our registration page and sign-up as a RailMatch member. You're under no obligation. Anyone can join, but the marketplace will be available only to bona fide participants in the freight transportation industry. If your company qualifies, you will receive an authorization number that will allow you to offer equipment to other RailMatch members for sale or lease. If you need equipment, you may post your requirements on RailMatch as well. If applicable, you'll also be able to offer your car management, design and engineering services to RailMatch members. RailMatch provides complete confidentiality to both buyers and sellers. Your identity, as either a buyer or seller, will be revealed only to other RailMatch members and then only to those you wish to contact.

For Sellers:

If you have rail equipment for sale, rental or lease, send us a detailed description of the lot including specific data regarding cartype, build date, condition and location. Please reference our equipment classification list here. For each car, include the car initials and number so that we can verify its ownership. RailMatch will only accept postings from actual owners of rail equipment or their authorized agents. RailMatch will then post a redacted summary version of your listing on the central RailMatch database. Posting is absolutely free. RailMatch charges a small transaction fee of between 100-200 basis points to the seller/lessor if the equipment is sold through the services of RailMatch.

Buyers will review your posting along with the other postings from across North America on the central RailMatch database. Potential buyers send an email message to RailMatch indicating their interest in specific lots of cars for sale. In turn, RailMatch will send the potential buyer's notice along to the seller. It is at the seller's discretion whether or not he wishes to respond to specific potential buyers. Buyers and sellers then negotiate privately offline. While the database is publicly viewable, RailMatch will only pass along notices of buyer interest from registered members of the RailMatch community.

For Buyers:

Mirroring sell-side transactions, RailMatch allows buyers of rail equipment to post their equipment requirements on the central RailMatch database. In those cases, fleet owners send RailMatch detailed descriptions of their equipment requirements. RailMatch will post a condensed version on the central RailMatch database. If a seller sees an "equipment wanted" posting on RailMatch that matches his inventory, he contacts RailMatch by phone or email. Negotiations are conducted privately and the identities of buyer and seller are only divulged with the authorization of both parties. Again, the seller/lessor is responsible for our service fees only if and when the transaction is successfully consummated.

Click here to view the RailMatch Buyer's and Seller's agreements.