County Line Rail has acquired the Sabine River and Northern Railroad
Ironhorse Resources to develop Gateway Rail Park in Texas
Railroad members! If you want to be featured in this section, please email us the link. You can also tag us (@ASLRRA) in your social media posts. Interested in seeing your railroad showcased in your local newspaper? Contact Amy Krouse for assistance.
The winners of this year’s Business Development Awards are Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad, South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, and the Union County Industrial Railroad. These railroads each achieved success by crafting solutions to meet the needs of their customers, using the unique capabilities of their railroads. They will be honored on April 8 at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado.
“The Business Development Award showcases the ethos of the short line industry - building strong relationships with customers and other partners, driving growth one carload at a time, and leveraging their unique strengths to benefit their shippers and the communities they serve,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “Our awardees showcase short lines’ ability to grow, by attracting new customers to rail, by helping a long-term customer take the next leap in their strategic plan, and by working all manner of relationships to have a manufacture site their new facility in their area.”
ASLRRA’s Business Development Awards celebrate companies that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation, benefitting their shippers and communities with advancements in service, operational improvements and economic development.
Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (BIP) won for its work onboarding new customer Coterra Energy, creating a flexible, scalable rail shipping option for a company that had never shipped via rail. The project required working closely with multiple state agencies, businesses and other short lines and Class I railroads to help Coterra move non-hazardous wastewater from eastern Pennsylvania to a disposal facility in southeastern Ohio. This project has offered cost savings and transportation options to Coterra, increased current and prospective business for BIP, added jobs, supported suppliers, generated construction and taken thousands of trucks per year off local roads.
South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL) was recognized for completion of a project for a long-time customer, a $375 million soybean processing plant that has brought significant growth to both SKOL and Bartlett Grain. The SKOL team was involved with all aspects of the project, including recommending a facility site and working with Bartlett on design and construction of necessary rail infrastructure. SKOL also had to improve its own infrastructure to handle increased traffic and work with three Class I railroads to ensure service. Not only has this project led to an 85 percent increase to Bartlett’s traffic in the fourth quarter of 2024 over the previous year and an expected 40 percent increase to SKOL’s rail traffic, the facility has brought 70 new jobs to the area in addition to the six new hires needed at SKOL. Other SKOL customers are benefiting from the railroad’s infrastructure improvements and there has been more interest from outside businesses in moving to the area.
Union County Industrial Railroad (UCIR) received an award for its ability to leverage knowledge of the local area to identify an ideal parcel of land for a customer looking to build a feed mill. Country View Family Farms (CVFF) needed land for a facility to produce feed for its hog producers. The team at UCIR knew of the perfect location, but the land was not for sale. UCIR introduced the landowner to CVFF and the three agreed to a deal to build the facility on the property, while still allowing portions of the land to be farmed. UCIR relied on multiple partners to assist in project funding and delivery of the new service. The new CVFF facility, completed in just one year, sources its grain from local farms, adding 50 new jobs while supporting 231 others and producing enough feed to meet the needs of about 60 percent of the company’s contracted hog producers, most of which are within 50 miles of the site.
On March 14, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) informed ASLRRA that it granted the Association’s request to delay the March 17 implementation date for rules regarding dispatcher and signal employee certification.
The FRA also told ASLRRA that, while the delay is granted by the issuance of enforcement discretion at this time, the agency will issue a notice in the Federal Register formally reopening the review of ASLRRA’s petitions for reconsideration on both the dispatcher certification regulation and the signal employee certification regulation. The new deadline for designating personnel and issuing certificates is March 17, 2026.
There is also a one-year extension for the provisions in both final rules that would prohibit railroads from allowing anyone to perform service as a dispatcher or signal employee unless they are certified. This extension applies to all railroads.
Anyone with questions about this news or the certification rules should contact ASLRRA Vice President, Safety and Compliance JR Gelnar.
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Patrick Fuchs announced the STB will end its litigation on its Final Offer Rate Review (FORR) rule, which was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
The STB issued the FORR final rule in 2022, creating a new procedure for shippers to challenge railroad rates. Union Pacific Railroad and the Association of American Railroads appealed the FORR decision. The Eighth Circuit vacated the rule in 2024, finding that the STB lacked statutory authority to prescribe rates through FORR and that FORR was not consistent with Administrative Procedure Act hearing requirements.
In a press release, Fuchs stated his intent to offer a draft action concerning the FORR docket for consideration by the full board in April.
Though the document is dated 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published guidance regarding written requests to use consolidated railroad accident/incident reporting with an effective date of March 18, 2025.
The guidance notes that parent railroads require permission from the FRA to use consolidated reporting and describes when consolidated reporting is appropriate. Parent railroads wanting to use consolidated reporting must submit a written application to the FRA’s docket clerk along with any supporting documentation. Included in the guidance document is a list of key factors the FRA will consider when reviewing these reporting requests. Requests should address these factors but the FRA also says that the list is not exhaustive and parent railroads are encouraged to provide additional relevant information.
The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) has published a study discussing the major damage that would be inflicted on bridges nationwide if Congress were to approve legislation allowing heavier trucks on roads.
This study applies current bridge inspection data and cost estimates to update CABT’s original bridge report, published in 2023. In a press release accompanying the study, CABT notes that between 65,157 and 82,457 local bridges would be at risk if heavier trucks were authorized. The number of at-risk bridges is a “sizable portion of the nation’s bridge infrastructure,” and the estimated cost of replacing these bridges has increased to $70.5 billion to $98.5 billion from $54.6 billion to $78.4 billion two years ago.
Proposed legislation would increase truck weight limits from the currently allowed 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds. CABT urges members of Congress to reject any such legislation.
Although bridges in all states would be affected by heavier trucks, CABT identified the states that would incur the highest potential costs to replace damaged bridges. They include Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington.
ASLRRA is a member of CABT and has joined the organization in its efforts to raise awareness of the damage to infrastructure caused by bigger, heavier trucks. ASLRRA opposes truck size and weight increases, and more information about the Association’s position can be found on its Truck Size and Weight Increase policy page.
Railroad Day on Capitol Hill will take place May 7 and attendees looking to book lodging for the event can now reserve a room in one of several room blocks at nearby hotels.
Railroad Day allows representatives from all parts of the railroad industry, including short lines, Class Is, contractors and suppliers, to speak in a united voice about important issues. Participants will meet with elected officials and their staff to help them learn more about the rail industry and understand its legislative priorities.
The day’s events include breakfast and materials pickup, congressional office visits and an evening reception. Individuals can register for Hill appointments only, Hill appointments and the evening reception, or the evening reception only. Register by April 28 to ensure a full schedule of meetings with requested offices.
ASLRRA is also welcoming sponsors for Railroad Day. Click here to learn more about sponsorships.
On March 14, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, which is effective through the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The “full year” funding bill for the most part provides funding levels for agencies at FY 2024 levels however, it does not contain any report language, and therefore no specific program, project and activity funding levels (PPAs) are identified unless such allocations were prescribed in the text of the law itself.
Instead, agencies are instructed to produce a PPA-level spending plan and submit the plans to their respective Appropriations Committees within 45 days of the bill’s enactment. ASLRRA will work to ensure programs important to the industry are included in agency requests.
In addition, Section 11301 of the bill reduces the fiscal year 2025 appropriations for certain earmarked accounts including Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants. For fiscal year 2025 CRISI will receive $100 million, down from the $199 million it received in fiscal year 2024. This funding is in addition to the advance appropriation amount from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which remains at $1 billion.
ASLRRA’s Annual Conference is considered the premier short line railroad industry event, not because of clever marketing but because the depth and breadth of the educational and networking opportunities offered are second to none.
There will be over 45 hours of industry-specific education delivered by experts with decades of combined experience in their fields. The sessions are organized across 12 industry tracks, covering topics relevant to everyone on a railroad team, from mechanics to locomotive engineers to legal counsel to managers and IT and human resources professionals.
There will be more than 250 booths in the Expo Hall staffed by ASLRRA associate business members offering products and services to improve every aspect of railroad operations, including safety and technology, equipment, consulting, engineering, construction, insurance and more.
There will be multiple networking opportunities every day, as well as two general sessions with industry-leading keynote speakers and awards honoring individuals and organizations for their accomplishments. Attendees can also join their colleagues at Lucky Strike to enjoy refreshments, make connections and engage in friendly competition.
Those who do not want to miss all the conference has to offer can still secure their spot. Click here to register today, and be sure to add on the Lucky Strike Networking Event – it’s free for Class II and III railroad members and a great opportunity for supplier members to meet informally with railroad colleagues.
Hotels have offered a brief extension to discounted room block rates, but that extension ends TODAY, March 19. After today, room rates will increase. Click here to go to ASLRRA’s event lodging page to see participating hotels and access booking links.
Volunteering at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference is a great way for registered attendees to interact with the many railroad professionals, suppliers, government representatives and other stakeholders at the event. With over 1,500 people expected to be in Denver for the conference, ASLRRA appreciates all those able to share their time to direct attendees to education sessions, answer general questions and help with other tasks.
While volunteers are welcome to help at any time throughout the duration of the conference, from April 6 to 8, there is a particular need for assistance on Sunday. Those interested in lending a hand should contact volunteer coordinator Steve Friedland to sign up.
The Arthur N. Ulrich Company, based in Pataskala, Ohio, is a third-generation, family-owned, operated and managed manufacturer’s representative agency. It specializes in the technical application and sale of high-integrity prime and backup electrical power systems for a variety of critical infrastructure needs in the railroad, healthcare, financial, utility, telecom, education, industrial and data processing fields. Matt Ulrich covers the Eastern U.S. & Canada and can be reached at (800) 848-2090 and Robby Johnson covers the Western U.S. & Canada and can be reached at (816) 874-2255. It also owns/operates two subsidiaries: RedHawk Energy Systems, LLC and RedHawk Services, LLC. Learn more by visiting them in Booth 424 at our Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver next month.
BossPac Technologies, based in Calgary with U.S. operations in Denver, Colorado, provides railroads wayside monitoring solutions specifically for North American Dark Rail networks. Its innovative Boss Rail Sensors offer continuous detection of broken rails, loose joints, and train presence. With easy installation and cost-effective operation, BRSs help railroads avert delays and maintain rail safety. President Darren Sortland is our primary contact and can be reached on (403) 796-3975. Learn more by visiting them in Booth 206 at our Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver next month.
dss+ Transportation is the operational transformation partner for high-hazard and complex industries, driving safety, performance, and sustainability breakthroughs with measurable impact. It has over 20 years’ experience reducing operational risk in the transportation industry, backed by highly qualified experts across multiple engineering disciplines. dss+ Transportation takes a systems-based approach to identifying, quantifying, and mitigating hazards and risks to railroad personnel and assets. Core offerings include Safety and Security Certification; Operational Risk Assessment and Reduction Programs; FRA Compliant Railroad Safety programs & training; Accident Reporting and Investigation; Fire / Life Safety; Li-Battery System Operation, Maintenance, Storage, and Disposal. Principal Michael O'Grady is our primary contact and can be reached on (815) 210-0305. Many thanks to Tom Austin of Railhead for recommending they join ASLRRA.
Enerpac, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provides a wide range of advanced industrial tools and services. Whether for manufacturing new rolling stock, maintaining existing fleets or track, its tools help increase productivity, enhance efficiency, and expand operational capabilities. Business Development Manager Jason Mann is our primary contact and can be reached on (630) 465-1828. Learn more by visiting them in Booth 320 at our Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver next month.
Home Shops, based in Roanoke, Texas, specializes in matching organizations in the railroad industry with Promotional Products that are unique, meaningful, and high quality. If you want to thank your customers, recognize your partners, or celebrate important events, Home Shops has the promotional products that will make you stand out. Owner Christopher Palmieri is our primary contact. Learn more by visiting them in Booth 1137 at our Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver next month.
What are the latest ways Association members can engage with ASLRRA? What is ASLRRA’s most recent call-to-action? Below are some of the different types of information the Association would love to gather.
Six ASLRRA training seminars remain in 2025, covering important railroad regulations and leadership topics. They are:
These seminars, presented by industry- and subject-matter experts including representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration, offer critical insight into many of the rules and regulations governing freight railroads. In addition, attendees participate in discussions with fellow industry professionals, which provides an opportunity to learn from peers.
Follow the links above to learn more about each event and register.
In order to help employees of small railroads attend these seminars, ASLRRA offers two scholarships, the Doug Golden Scholarship and the Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarship.
Doug Golden Scholarships award up to $1,200 to help cover registration, travel and lodging fees for industry-specific training, while the Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarship awards $500 to cover registration for an ASLRRA training seminar.
Both scholarships are open to employees of railroads earning less than $10 million per year in annual revenue. Applications are submitted via online form and are evaluated as they are received, with scholarships awarded on a rolling basis. Individuals can receive only one of each scholarship, and Doug Golden Scholarships are capped at two per railroad.
As an exclusive ASLRRA Preferred Provider, Loram offers discount pricing on its Aurora Track Inspection Technology featuring state-of-the-art imaging technology that scans track to reveal the specific condition of every tie along the way, pinpointing potential problems and marking their exact location.
A comprehensive tie inspection using Loram’s Aurora technology provides a detailed report that enables a railroad to streamline capital maintenance programs and helps ensure industry compliance, while helping plan repairs efficiently.
All ASLRRA Member Discount Program Preferred Providers are carefully vetted companies committed to providing discounted pricing, special offers and guaranteed exceptional services on a range of industry-specific products and services. Visit the Association’s Member Discount Program page to view all Preferred Providers and learn how Loram’s Aurora Track Inspection Technology can make railroad operations safer and more efficient.
Today, Chuck Baker participated in a discussion of supply chain solutions with representatives from ASLRRA member parent companies Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. and OmniTRAX at the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers 2025 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.
Join industry colleagues for an informative webinar, in which speakers will explore the challenges of outdated locomotive control systems that many short line railroads are facing and the advantages of upgrading to modern solutions that improve traction, fuel efficiency, and reliability. Sponsored and presented by subject matter experts from ASLRRA associate member ZTR, the session will discuss:
Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A at the end of the presentation.
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ASLRRA offers recorded webinars in the Operations & Safety category addressing a range of railcar alerts, maintenance, and billing issues. All webinar recordings are available to members at any time. Look for the following titles, presented by Railinc’s Robin McFalls:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) published its March Hazmat Tip, the third of three focused on topics related to railway security.
The tip, which is available in PDF and video form, discusses a final rule issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that establishes security requirements for freight rail carriers and other rail operators.
Freight rail and trains can be vulnerable to attack due to their generally open infrastructure environment. TSA’s rule codifies its existing inspection program and requires regulated parties to allow TSA and Department of Homeland Security officials to access property, facilities, records and more relevant to rail security. The Hazmat Tip further describes other requirements for freight rail carriers established in the rule.
View other Hazmat Tips and Safety Tips on SLSI’s website. The organization makes a number of resources available at any time to railroads and other stakeholders. Click here to view SLSI’s online offerings.
To receive SLSI news directly, sign up for the institute’s communications using the Subscription Form at the bottom of the SLSI homepage.
Click here for a calendar of industry events.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
