In this section, we showcase short line industry stories published in local media.
Iron Horse pulls out of new station
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.
ASLRRA has submitted a notice of intent to participate in the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Sept. 16 and 17 hearing on growth in the freight rail industry, along with a copy of its comments. The Association requested 60 minutes for its presentation, which will include five member representatives who will speak on behalf of the short line railroad industry.
Along with ASLRRA Senior Vice President, Law and General Counsel Sarah Yurasko, the short line representatives who will participate include
In its comments, ASLRRA notes the interest of the STB in understanding how those in the freight rail industry are working to reverse recent declines in carload volumes and grow business. The Association describes the short line railroad approach to growth as emphasizing four key points: a deep understanding of customers; investment in infrastructure; close collaboration with local business development groups; and strong relationships with community and Class I partners.
As ASLRRA points out, “Short lines keenly focus on retaining and growing carload volume – and will partner with anyone to better serve a customer or build out a rail option for a new customer. Whether it is one carload of scrap a year that is hauled for a one-man scrap sorter who contacts the railroad, or several hundred carloads a week – there is NO customer that our industry will not work to serve and grow business with.”
ASLRRA and the short line railroad representatives will share examples of the ways they have grown their business. Some of these stories come from ASLRRA’s most recent Business Development Award winners, whose efforts were documented in short videos produced for debut at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference. Click the links below to view each video.
Over 30 other stakeholders have also submitted a notice of intent to participate in the hearing. These include executives from all six Class I railroads and representatives from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), shipper trade groups, suppliers, rail labor, lobby groups, Wall Street analysts and consultants. The hearing will be live-streamed on the STB’s YouTube channel.
Thanks to Irwin Car for being a sponsor of this edition of Views & News.
Under requirements established by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) new train crew size rule, Class II and III railroads seeking an exception for certain one-person train crew operations must file the relevant paperwork with the FRA by Sept. 6, which is in 12 business days.
To help member railroads meet these reporting requirements, ASLRRA staff and members of the Association’s Safety and Training Committee have developed guidance and templates for all required forms. These templates are grouped under “Part 218 (Railroad Operating Practices)” and can be found in the Compliance Templates section of ASLRRA’s Safety & Compliance page. In July, ASLRRA held a webinar on the rule, which members can now view any time in the Association’s On-Demand Webinar library. A copy of the webinar presentation is also available with the recording.
Although the FRA’s rule is currently being challenged in court, the rule has been enacted and railroads are required to comply with its terms. For Class II and III railroads to file for an exception, they must submit a notification of one-person operation, a copy of operating rules that address safety of certain situations and operating rules that address the safety of the one-person crew member.
Railroads needing to submit this paperwork include legacy, i.e., existing for two years or more, freight operations and non-legacy operations that have existed less than two years and do not move prohibited hazardous materials. One-person crew operations for work trains not exceeding 4,000 trailing tons, helper service and lite locomotives do not need to provide one-person operation notification to the FRA, but they must submit both types of operating rules to the agency by Sept. 6.
The FRA has published its own compliance guide for the crew size rule. Railroads with questions about the rule or submitting required paperwork can contact ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar or Jo Strang.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee has started a campaign to reduce roadway maintenance machine (RMM) fatalities, spreading word about their efforts through different venues including the FRA’s social media pages.
The committee has titled their campaign RMM – 1234 Talking Points, which refers to four categories of safety recommendations. The categories are communication, teamwork, lockout/tagout (LOTO) and operation. All the recommendations provided in the talking points align with railroad rules and regulations and are intended to convey important messages including boosting awareness of RMM hazards, emphasizing certain safety practices and using multiple job briefings to ensure employee understanding of workplace hazards.
The 1234 Talking points initiative is part of the FAMES Committee’s RMM year-long focus strategy. The goal is to help organizations achieve “zero RMM fatalities by year-end and beyond.”
ASLRRA’s recent feature on a visit by Representative Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) to member Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) highlights the importance of connecting with elected officials to help them better understand issues facing the short line freight rail industry.
Lawmakers are currently in their home states for the next two weeks before they are scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., and some of these lawmakers are holding events with constituents during this time. Though it may not be possible to organize a visit to railroad and other facilities in such a short time, ASLRRA members can still reach out to their representatives’ local offices to make an initial connection and set the foundation for future communication.
ASLRRA strongly encourages its members to build a relationship with their elected officials. As IAIS’s Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Onna Houck said when she spoke about Rep. LaHood’s visit, being able to share the short line perspective helps “provide context to the legislative conversation,” particularly “given the current rail safety debate in both Congress and the public.”
For members unfamiliar with their representatives on Capitol Hill, the Association’s government affairs team can help connect them with the appropriate congressional office. Contact ASLRRA’s Crystal Gitchell for more information.
Representative Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) penned an opinion piece for Railway Age magazine, describing his opposition to efforts by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to get U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorization to enact its In-Use Locomotive Regulation.
Molinaro, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, calls the California agency’s regulation “a disaster waiting to happen.” He makes three points, saying first that the technology and infrastructure needed to meet the 2030 deadline for transitioning to zero-emission technology is unavailable, making the deadline impossible to meet.
Second, Molinaro highlights the current environmental benefits of rail and points out how CARB’s rule would hinder, not help, the U.S. reach emissions-reduction goals. Third, Molinaro talks about the potential disruption to the national supply chain, even if the regulation were only implemented in California, due to the interconnected nature of the U.S. freight network.
Molinaro argues that he is committed to addressing climate-change emissions and their effects, but wants an “all-of-the-above energy approach” that “preserves our economy, supports working families, farmers and businesses, and allows for continued growth to meet the needs of our state and nation.”
Individuals planning to attend ASLRRA’s Eastern and Southern Region Meeting, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida, will pay extra to do so starting tomorrow, Aug. 22.
Registration rates will increase for both the Eastern and Southern Region Meeting and golf at the Slammer & Squire Course. Rooms are still available in ASLRRA’s room block at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville. The deadline for discounted hotel rates is Sept. 9.
Early bird registration has already ended for ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar, but there is still time to register at regular rates. Rates will increase again on September 25.
The Central and Pacific Region Meeting will be held Oct. 28 to 30, with a golf tournament at the Luna Vista Golf Course. The General Counsel Symposium and Finance & Administration Seminar are held concurrently with the regional meeting, on Oct. 28 to 29 and Oct. 29 to 30, respectively. Attendees must register separately for each event, although networking opportunities overlap and symposium and seminar participants can take advantage of these opportunities to interact with those attending the regional meeting.
Those who register for the Central and Pacific Region Meeting, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar can secure a room in ASLRRA’s room block at the Westin Galleria Dallas. The last day for discounted hotel rates is Oct. 7.
Presentation materials from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Rail Program Delivery Workshop are now available on the FRA’s website.
The workshop sessions were organized into four categories: Grant Application Success, Technology & Tools, Project Development & Delivery and Engagement Sessions. Topics covered included the environmental review process, Buy America requirements, understanding grant terms and conditions, using FRA tools to aid project success and more.
The FRA hosted the workshop as a way to bring together FRA staff, FRA external partners and railroad professionals to foster collaboration and provide information to help organizations improve understanding of FRA grant processes, resources and project delivery best practices.
Industry experts in ASLRRA's Member Discount Program can assist member railroads in the preparation and submission of a number of different grant applications. This includes the federal Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s rail freight grant program, both of which are currently accepting applications.
As a preferred provider of grant writing services, Colliers Engineering and Design offers discounted rates, industry expertise, and exceptional service to ASLRRA members. Visit ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program page and select Grant Writing Services to learn more about Colliers and other exceptional preferred providers.
ASLRRA’s Leadership Development – Regulatory Module training seminar covers a wide range of material to help participants improve their knowledge of federal regulatory agencies and railroad rules while bolstering their managerial and leadership skills. This year, the Association will hold its leadership training seminar Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 in Jacksonville, FL.
There are only a few open spots left for this event. The seminar is co-located with the Eastern and Southern Region Meeting, but separate registration is required. Attendees of the seminar are welcome to attend the Tuesday evening reception at the Eastern and Southern Region meeting without a separate registration. Click here for more information or to register.
To help employees of small railroads attend this important industry training, ASLRRA offers both Doug Golden Scholarships and Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarships. These scholarships are made possible through generous donations from the Doug Golden-Mary Cullen Charitable Fund and the family of the late Jake Jacobson, respectively. Click here to access more information about the scholarship program and find links to online application forms. Applications are accepted and awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Crystal Gitchell was the keynote speaker at an event hosted by the New Jersey Railroad Association on Aug. 16. Gitchell spoke during the luncheon, providing an update on legislative and regulatory work going on in the ASLRRA Washington, D.C. office. The event was held at a Railroad Construction Group facility.
This webinar includes an introduction to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS). OCS assists companies in their goal towards achieving zero plastic resin loss during operations, thereby keeping plastic out of the environment and surrounding waterways. The session will also discuss the OCS Rail program that was launched in 2024 as a new category of the OCS program specifically for rail partners and their operations. Several current OCS Rail members will also share individual case studies for an inside perspective on the program.
Speakers:
Sponsored by the American Chemistry Council
ASLRRA’s in-house subject-matter experts Jo Strang, JR Gelnar and Sarah Yurasko have presented several webinars focused on regulatory issues. These recordings and over 200 others are available free to members at any time. Look for the titles below in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
The Port of Tacoma, as part of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, is one of the newest members of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative. ASLRRA member Tacoma Rail serves four intermodal terminals within the Port of Tacoma.
FLOW is a public-private partnership meant to provide a better view of U.S. supply chain conditions through collection and analysis of participant data. FLOW members can see logistics information beyond their individual company data in order to better understand the passage of goods through the network, forecast demand, optimize service and more.
In addition to the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which includes the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle, the Port of Oakland also recently joined FLOW. Two other West Coast ports, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, are already FLOW members. These two ports are served by ASLRRA member Pacific Harbor Line.
Overall, there are 80 members of FLOW. Besides container ports, membership includes BNSF Railway, ocean carriers, logistics and shipping companies and retailers like Target, IKEA, Lowe’s and PetSmart.
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.
