Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
Glass-walled house with a pool
Who insures it · 4 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures Railroad contractors?

Railroad contractors is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

4 markets publicly write Railroad contractors: Kinsale Insurance, Travelers, RT Specialty, Markel. 2 admitted carriers, 1 E&S carrier, 1 wholesaler. 1 on admitted paper.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
Kinsale Insurance
E&S carrier		Railroad General Liability and Railroad Protective Liability for contractors working on or performing support operations near railroads, targeted at small to midsize railroad-related risks including harder-to-insure accounts.
“We offer Railroad General Liability and Railroad Protective Liability for contractors working on or performing support operations near railroads”		not statednot statedkinsaleins.com · read 2026-10-28
Travelers
Admitted carrier		Railroad Protective Liability (RRP) for contractors on an admitted basis, available to Travelers construction customers or as a stand-alone policy even when the general liability is written elsewhere.
“Travelers construction offers this coverage to contractors on an admitted basis.”		not statedAdmittedtravelers.com · read 2026-10-28
RT Specialty
Wholesaler		Rail & Infrastructure practice lists Railroad Contract and Suppliers, Railroad Protective Liability, Class I/II and shortline rail programs, passenger rail and rolling stock.
“Railroad Contract and Suppliers”		not statednot statedrtspecialty.com · read 2026-10-28
Markel
Admitted carrier		First-party railroad insurance (property/physical damage) for passenger, freight and other rail operations, listing Railroad contractors among covered risks; the page states Markel does not offer third-party railroad liability.
“Markel provides specialized railroad insurance coverage for a wide array of risks, including but not limited to:”		across the U.S. (no states listed)not statedmarkel.com · read 2026-10-28

Markel is first-party only (no liability). Amwins, Burns & Wilcox, CRC and Jencap construction pages fetched do not name railroad contractors; Nautilus, Prime, Great American and Zurich pages fetched do not either.

How Railroad contractors gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

Check who's likely to insure yours

Hard to place?

Send it once. It goes to the markets that write it.

A few minutes to request the quote; it reaches the markets that take Railroad contractors, and the answers come back by email.

Get a QuoteCall (877) 711-4545
Not shopping yet?

Get a reminder before your renewal.

Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.