Press Releases

Bi-Cameral BRACE Act Achieves Majority in Congress

WASHINGTON, DC, July 17, 2017 - Today the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced that the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, introduced in March of this year, has achieved 226 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives (H.R. 721) and 51 co-sponsors in the Senate (S. 407).

U.S. Representative Hollingsworth Joins NRC/REMSA Member R.J. Corman Railroad Services & ASLRRA Member L&I Railroad for Project Tour

JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, July 10, 2017 - On July 10, 2017, Representative Trey Hollingsworth (R – IN09) joined representatives from R.J. Corman Railroad Services to tour a project on the Louisville & Indiana (L&I) Railroad, and discuss pressing rail and manufacturing issues with various rail stakeholders.

ASLRRA Publishes All-New Short Line and Regional Railroad Facts and Figures

WASHINGTON, DC, June 26, 2017 - The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has released its latest version of Short Line and Regional Railroad Facts and Figures, with an all-new format and detailed information on the short line industry.

ASLRRA Publishes Annual Jake Award Recipients

WASHINGTON, DC – June 14, 2017 – The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has announced the 308 railroad recipients of its annual Jake Awards, recognizing above-industry average safety performance during 2016.  To be honored with a Jake Award an ASLRRA member railroad must  perform better than the Class II and III industry average injury frequency rate as reported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) during the prior year.

ASLRRA Honors Excellence at 2017 CONNECTIONS Convention

WASHINGTON, DC – May 8, 2017 – The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) honored a number of their member railroads for excellence in the areas of Veteran’s hiring and marketing initiatives at its 2017 CONNECTIONS, held at the Gaylord Texan, Grapevine, Texas.

ASLRRA Honors Individuals for Career Excellence in Safety

WASHINGTON, DC – May 8, 2017 – The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) honored two outstanding individuals for their career commitment to safety compliance and culture at the 2017 CONNECTIONS Convention in Grapevine, Texas. Keith LaPorte, Old Augusta Railroad, Safety Person of the Year and Ron Sparks, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Safety Professional of the Year.

Small Railroads Call on Subcommittee to Support Regulations That Are Cost and Benefit Focused

Washington, DC – APRIL 26, 2017 -Darr calls for regulations that provide proven safety benefits, cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach.

ASLRRA Launches Short Line Education Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 7, 2017 – Washington, DC – April 7, 2017 – Today the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced the creation of a Short Line Education Fund to address industry training and certification needs; communicate and promote the value of short line railroads to decision makers, customers and industry stakeholders; and build a library of industry-specific research, education and training materials.

ASLRRA Supports Your Grateful Nation, Providing Dinner for Fisher House Residents

WASHINGTON, DC - March 24, 2017 -  “We have the utmost respect for the men and women in uniform that defend our freedom every day,” said Linda Darr, President, ASLRRA. “This is our small way of giving back to the families that have given so much for us.”

Railroad Day 2017 a Record Breaking Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 7, 2017 – On March 2, 2017 a record number of citizen lobbyist railroaders, suppliers and customers met with their Congressional leaders to identify legislative strategies to grow rail opportunity. 367 Congressional offices hosted meetings for 456 visitors – a record number of participants for the annual event which has been held since 1999.

ASLRRA Applauds Senate Confirmation of Elaine Chao

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 31, 2017 – Linda Bauer Darr, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), today released the following statement regarding the Senate confirmation of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation.

Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act Introduced in the 115th Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – January 31, 2017 – The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) applauds the introduction of the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act in the House of Representatives (H.R. 721) yesterday evening by Representatives Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Dan Lipinski (D-IL). This bill will make the short line railroad track maintenance tax credit (45G) permanent, allowing small railroads to spend more of their revenue rehabilitating infrastructure that serves as a critical transportation connection for local shippers across the country. The tax credit expired December 31, 2016.

ASLRRA Joins AAR, ATA and OOIDA in opposing EPA Renewable Fuel Standard program changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2017