Short Line Training Center

The Short Line Training Center is a collaborative project created by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and Iowa Northern Railway Company (IANR), with funding support provided by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This comprehensive training program for short line railroads combines an online Learning Management System (LMS), online computer-based training (CBT) courses, in-person instructor-led training (ILT) seminars, and Locomotive Simulators to deliver essential regulatory, compliance and safety courses and materials to railroad employees.

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Learning Management System (LMS)

The Learning Management System (LMS) is an online platform/hub for short lines to access a custom-built suite of railroad industry training programs, interactive coursework and assessment materials, available 24/7 at the click of a mouse.

Participating railroads enroll users, assign courses, track progress and manage team reports through an intuitive Admin dashboard while employees access assigned training via a Learner dashboard that is customized with railroad-specific branding and tailored messaging. Admins may also upload individual employee OJT training records to fully leverage the platform’s training, record keeping and reporting capabilities.

The LMS platform was launched in 2021 using ASLRRA’s 22 Part 243 model programs and existing training videos covering FRA Drug and Alcohol Reasonable Suspicion and Post-Accident Toxicological Testing as seed content. At least 30 new training courses are being developed for the Short Line Training Center.  All computer-based training courses will be delivered via the ASLRRA-IANR LMS platform; users of third-party LMS platforms may license individual courses for use on their platform. 

To date, nearly 2,000 railroad employees from dozens of railroads have received online training and/or ILT post-training assessments using the ASLRRA-IANR LMS platform.  For more information or to schedule an online demonstration, please contact Sabrina Waiss.

Please click here to visit the Short Line Training Center LMS.
(Paid subscription required for access)

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Locomotive Simulator Training

Locomotive Simulator Training can address a range of requirements, from basic train handling to positive train control and distributed power operations. Training is available to short line railroads at their location via the Mobile Technical Training Center, which is equipped to deliver personalized, instructor-led seminars and locomotive simulator training to railroad employees on site, minimizing staff downtime and eliminating travel costs. The Mobile Technical Training Center can travel anywhere in the continental US and houses two FRA Type II locomotive simulators and classroom space to accommodate up to six students.

Training is also provided at Iowa Northern Railway’s Training Center in Waterloo, IA, where attendees have access to four FRA Type II locomotive simulators and full classroom facilities for up to 30 students.

For more information or to schedule locomotive simulator training, please contact Mark Vaughn.