In this section, we showcase short line industry stories published in local media.
There has been a great deal of local news coverage of CRISI grant recipients. Here is a small selection of articles:
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 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a record $1.29 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants to 81 short line railroad projects across 36 states, helping railroads improve grade crossings, bridges and other infrastructure, invest in lower emission locomotives, reduce trespassing incidents and much more.
“The CRISI grant program has proven to be transformational to the short line industry. In this combined [Fiscal Year 2023-2024] round, short lines have secured grants that will enable innovative methods of serving customers, drive growth for the freight rail industry and the economy, improve safety and reduce environmental impact. The CRISI grant program, the only grant program for which short lines are directly eligible, is wise public policy that will provide benefits to the interconnected freight rail system and the thousands of communities we serve for decades to come,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker in a press release.
Funding to short lines represents approximately 52 percent of all grant awards for the 2023 and 2024 cycle. Moreover, 55 of the short line grants will go toward projects in rural areas, where short lines frequently provide the only realistic transportation option for shippers. View the full list of CRISI grant recipients here.
Short line freight railroads are the first- and last-mile service connections for thousands of industrial, manufacturing, energy, and agricultural shippers across America. Without modern, safe, and efficient short line rail service, these shippers would risk being cut off from the national freight rail network and global economy – and they would be dependent solely on more expensive, less environmentally friendly transportation.
“Short line railroads are a growth driver of the freight rail industry. FRA’s recognition of the benefits that can be delivered by each dollar invested in these small businesses is evident in the overwhelming success of short line applications in this latest grant cycle,” said Baker. “Congress and the FRA can be confident that short lines will put these public dollars to good use.”
Overall, the FRA awarded $2.46 billion in CRISI grants to 122 projects for FY 2023-2024. As in previous years, demand for CRISI grant funding far outstripped supply. According to the FRA there were 271 applications submitted during this round, requesting a total of $7.4 billion.
ASLRRA Receives CRISI Grant for Industry Data Collection and Analysis
Along with the many short lines receiving CRISI grant funding, ASLRRA was awarded a $20.5 million grant for a project that will improve the national short line data survey process to enrich data collection and analysis for the short line industry.
In addition to efforts concerning a national survey process, ASLRRA and its project partners, including associate business member Wi-Tronix and multiple short lines, will work to improve the accuracy of short line GIS data and install advanced digital on-board systems on locomotives. Improved data collection will allow ASLRRA to record and analyze information across short lines, including details concerning energy usage, locomotive idling and emissions.
This project, which qualified for the statutory set-aside for rural areas, will secure more comprehensive data from the short line industry, enabling improved analytics and data projects that can support freight rail system operating efficiency, investment, and development.
More than 425 railroad professionals traveled to Dallas, Texas this week to attend ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting and the Association’s focused educational events, the Finance and Administration Seminar and the General Counsel Symposium.
The regional meeting welcomed a record 350 attendees who partook of ASLRRA’s robust educational offerings, including the announcement of recipients of fiscal year 2023-2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published its list of awardees early yesterday morning, before a panel of FRA experts convened to talk about CRISI grants during the meeting’s general session.
Other general session presentations included an update regarding the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) real-time reporting rule and discussions of issues related to locomotive power and the national boxcar supply.
ASLRRA also offered industry-specific education to railroad professionals in the legal, finance and human resources sectors. Attendees received an overview of railroad law, updates on industry litigation efforts, discussion of payroll topics and retirement planning and more.
During Tuesday’s general session, ASLRRA honored winners of this year’s President’s Awards for safety performance in the Central and Pacific regions. The President’s Awards recognize railroads that have achieved either a 0.0 accident frequency rate, or the best safety rate as measured by the lowest accident frequency rate per person-hour of operation below the industry average. See pictures of the awards ceremony below.
Beyond educational content, attendees participated in multiple networking opportunities, including a golf tournament and a happy hour event sponsored by the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (TSLRRA).
Those who were unable to attend either ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting or its Eastern and Southern Region Meeting last month are encouraged to register for the Association’s 2025 Annual Conference. The short line railroad industry’s premier event will take place April 6 to 8 at the Denver Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. Those who register before Nov. 14 will secure their spots at the same cost as the early bird price for the 2024 conference.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company, Central Region Winner – More than 500,000 person-hours worked
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Company, Central Region Winner – 250,000 to 500,000 person-hours worked
PSC Group, Central Region Winner – 150,000 to 250,000 person-hours worked
Kiamichi Railroad Company, Central Region Winner – 50,000 to 150,000 person-hours worked
Western Rail Road Company, Central Region Winner – Less than 50,000 person-hours worked
Pacific Harbor Line, Inc., Pacific Region Winner – 250,000-500,000 person-hours worked
Terminal Switching Services, Pacific Region Winner – 150,000 to 250,000 person-hours worked
Texas & New Mexico Railway, Pacific Region Winner – Less than 50,000 person-hours worked
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released three notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs), one concerning track inspections, one concerning positive train control (PTC) systems and one concerning petitions for regulatory relief.
ASLRRA staff continues to review the NPRMs for their effect on short line railroads. All of the proposed rules have comment periods that close in late December.
Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) Inspections
This rule would require Class I and II, intercity passenger and commuter railroads to supplement human visual track inspections with automated track inspection technology. These railroads would be required to operate a qualifying Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) at specified frequencies on all mainline and controlled siding track that transports annual tonnage over 10 million gross tons, regularly scheduled passenger rail service or trains containing hazardous materials. Railroads would also be required to address any identified track defects according to timeframes established by the rule.
Also proposed in the rule are recordkeeping and training requirements for TGMS inspections and minimum requirements for information to be included in TGMS reports.
View the FRA’s press release here, and the NPRM text here. Comments are due Dec. 23.
Positive Train Control Systems
This rule proposes changes to some regulations governing PTC systems. The FRA says it “has found that its existing PTC regulations do not adequately address temporary situations during which PTC technology is not enabled,” necessitating the NPRM.
Under the new rule, the FRA would establish parameters and restrictions governing railroad operations that occur when PTC technology is temporarily not enabled, such as during outages, maintenance, repairs or upgrades. The purpose is to establish “clear, uniform processes” and eliminate “uncertainty and inconsistent application of FRA’s regulations.”
View the FRA’s press release here, and the NPRM text here. Comments are due Dec. 27.
Federal Railroad Administration's Procedures for Waivers and Safety-Related Proceedings
This rule would clarify language used in the FRA’s procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings and require petitions for regulatory relief to include proof the petitioner has consulted with the appropriate stakeholders.
The FRA would define the phrases “in the public interest” and “consistent with railroad safety,” which are part of the statutory standard FRA uses to evaluate whether to grant requests for regulatory relief via waivers or suspensions. For example, the FRA wants railroads to not only explain how granting relief that is “in the public interest” would improve railroad operations, but also how it would, among other things, work toward “empowering workers, ensuring fairness, protecting the environment, or creating robust infrastructure.”
View the FRA’s press release here, and the NPRM text here. Comments are due Dec. 30.
The Transportation Safety Administration has renewed two of its security directives (SDs), focused on rail cybersecurity and public transportation and passenger rail cybersecurity. TSA held a virtual meeting to discuss the updated SDs, noting the agency did not make significant changes to either document.
In both SD 1580-21-01C - Enhancing Rail Cybersecurity and SD 1582-21-01C - Enhancing Public Transportation and Passenger Railroad Cybersecurity, TSA adds some information about continuing cyber threats to surface transportation systems, clarifies some reporting requirements and adds or edits terms to standardize security directive definitions.
TSA will continue to renew these cyber SDs until a final rule replacing them is put into effect. TSA has said a notice of proposed rulemaking is forthcoming, and ASLRRA staff will review any proposed rule once it is made public.
Many elected officials have championed the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, advocating for full program funding and writing letters of support for CRISI grant applications submitted by organizations in their districts. ASLRRA's government affairs team is reaching out to express thanks on behalf of the Association and its members to those in Congress who were instrumental in the funding process.
Also with the announcement of CRISI awards has come press releases from lawmakers’ offices describing the funding that will benefit projects in their districts and states. Featured below are links to elected officials’ publications related to CRISI grants. Not all lawmakers’ links may be listed, but this selection shows the diverse range of projects, states and groups CRISI grants will benefit.
ASLRRA has opened registration for the 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition, and those who register before Nov. 14 will be able to lock in last year’s rate and secure their spot at the short line railroad industry’s premier education and networking event.
Featured speakers at the 2025 conference will include Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena and a panel discussing rail coalition RailPulse. Joining the panel will be RailPulse General Manager David Shannon, Norfolk Southern Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan and a representative from Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc.
ASLRRA has also opened registration for optional activities including a train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer and a networking event at Lucky Strike. Registration for the Lucky Strike networking event is free for ASLRRA Class II and III railroad members, but these individuals must still add the event to their ticket when registering for the conference. Space is limited for both events, so those who want to attend either or both optional activities should register for the conference soon.
Adjustments to the 2025 Annual Conference schedule will offer more exhibit hours and an additional exhibit day on Tuesday. Due to these and other schedule changes for the 2025 conference, ASLRRA urges attendees to plan to stay until Wednesday to take full advantage of all this year’s event has to offer.
ASLRRA reminds its members that the Association does not partner with outside groups to book registration or hotel rooms and does not authorize any individuals or companies to do so on ASLRRA’s behalf. ASLRRA will not contact you directly via phone or email to make hotel reservations.
Those who receive solicitations about hotel rooms or registration should not provide any sensitive information to those individuals and instead forward details about the encounter to ASLRRA’s Amy Westerman.
NEXTSENSE GmbH, based in Austria and part of Hexagon AB (a leading global provider of information technologies), develops and markets optical systems for profile measurement in the automotive, railway and steel industries. With its unique CALIPRI technology, NEXTSENSE is a leader in mobile profile measurement systems for wear measurement of wheels, rails and tracks. The CALIPRI non-contact profile measurement devices are based on laser light section technology, which ensures precise and reproducible measured data. The sales manager responsible for the North American region is Barbara Oschlinger, who can be contacted via email Barbara.oschlinger@hexagon.com or via phone +43699 12324 084.
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.
The Coalition Heath Plan is specifically designed for ASLRRA members looking for a solution to reduce their medical premiums and simplify the healthcare experience for their employees. As the fifth largest broker in the world with over 500 locations in North America, HUB International is well equipped to provide ASLRRA members with a vast network of benefits experts and best-in-class resources no matter where the member company is located in the US.
Partnering with HUB puts ASLRRA members at the center of a vast network of experts who provide risk services, claims management, and compliance support. Visit ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program page and select Employee Health Insurance to start saving today.
This webinar includes an introduction to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), of which ASLRRA is an official supporting member. 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
Strategic communications are important for railroads, whether the purpose is to advance government or community partnerships or identify and attract business opportunities. ASLRRA has held several communications-related webinars, recordings of which are available at any time online. 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 newest Safety Tip from the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) offers recommendations for effective communication in the workplace, which can help improve an organization’s overall safety culture.
The Safety Tip includes suggestions such as the incorporation of visual aids posted around the workplace and use of communication strategies meant to maximize employee engagement and focus. Click here to view the Safety Tip.
SLSI has produced numerous Safety Tips and Hazmat Tips to help railroads review important safety information and improve safety culture. Click here to view the full list of tips available online. Many of these tips also have video versions. Find Safety Minute Videos here and Hazmat Minute Videos here.
SLSI Scheduling Safety Culture Assessments for 2025
As a reminder, SLSI is currently scheduling Safety Culture Assessments (SCAs) for short line, tourist, passenger and commuter railroads for 2025. Interested railroads are encouraged to secure a spot on the calendar before all spaces are filled.
An SCA is a voluntary and confidential evaluation of a railroad’s safety culture, offered at no cost to the organization. A team of SLSI professionals uses employee surveys, employee interviews, safety document evaluation and field observations to identify a railroad’s areas of strength and areas of opportunity.
Railroads that have already conducted an SCA can schedule a follow-up assessment to identify improvements since the initial SCA and any new opportunities for advancement. Railroads that have implemented recommendations from the SLSI’s initial SCA have shown improvement in safety culture across all ten elements measured.
Learn more at SLSI’s website, or contact SLSI’s Director of Safety Culture Programs Sam Cotton to put the SLSI’s over 700 years of safety experience to work on your railroad.
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.
