Anchorage Museum Among Alaskans Combining to Win Auction for Alaska Railroad's Golden Spike
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.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has issued over 40 Executive Orders (EOs) to advance his administration’s policy goals. Most of the orders are not directly relevant to short line railroads, for example those related to national energy, international environmental agreements and TikTok. However, some actions may affect programs of direct interest to short lines, at least temporarily. The most recent directive from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), one freezing nearly all federal grant and loan programs, was rescinded today.
In the EO issued on Jan. 20 on “Unleashing American Energy,” Section 7 regarding “Terminating the Green New Deal,” requires all agencies to immediately pause disbursement of funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to ensure consistency with the energy policy outlined in the order. The initial reading of this EO led ASLRRA staff to believe that Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant funds, which were provided under IIJA, could be temporarily paused for a review.
However, the next day on Jan. 21, the OMB issued a memo, Guidance Regarding Section 7 of the Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, that clarified the pause in disbursing funds only applies to funds supporting programs, projects, or activities that may be implicated by the energy policy established in Section 2 of the order, for instance eliminating the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate," which led ASLRRA staff to believe that CRISI funds would be in the clear.
But then, on Jan. 27, OMB issued another memo directing essentially all federal agencies to place a freeze on nearly all federal grant and loan and assistance programs that could conflict with the President’s policies as shared in his previous EOs.
This order quickly became a major national news story and sent all of official Washington and much of the country into a flurry of activity and concern. Shortly before this order was to go into effect at 5 p.m. yesterday, a federal judge blocked the program temporarily in response to this lawsuit.
And today, the OMB issued a new notice rescinding its Jan. 27 memo. Acting OMB Director Matthew Vaeth wrote “OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have any questions about implementing the President’s Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel.”
ASLRRA reminds its members that being in regular communication with FRA contacts about specific projects and in communication with their Congressional delegation about any concerns is never a bad idea. ASLRRA will continue to share meaningful information as appropriate.
ASLRRA has submitted comments in response to a notice published by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposing a waiver of its Buy America requirements for certain locomotive projects.
The proposed waiver would apply to the purchase of pre-owned locomotives that would be used as the underframe or chassis for renewable-energy locomotives. The general applicability waiver would be issued for FRA-funded projects that involve procuring used locomotives to be overhauled.
ASLRRA supports the FRA’s proposed waiver. In its comments, the Association notes that short line railroads routinely use, rebuild and repower old locomotives, and using the chassis of these units is not only a standard industry practice, it is practical, efficient, economical and less wasteful.
The FRA also requested insight into what other components for locomotive batteries, charging stations and equipment might benefit from a similar waiver. ASLRRA recommends waivers for elements of locomotive batteries, battery packs and cores, associated control systems and charging stations due to the current lack of a fully Buy America-compliant domestic supply chain for all this new rail-sector equipment.
Registration is now open for the 2025 Railroad Day on Capitol Hill advocacy event that will take place May 7 in Washington, D.C. Click here to register for the event.
Representatives from short line and regional railroads, Class Is, suppliers, supporting industry associations and other stakeholders will meet with lawmakers and congressional offices to discuss matters important to the rail industry. For ASLRRA’s members, this is an invaluable opportunity to connect with federal representatives who craft the policies that affect their operations.
At last year’s Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, over 300 participants visited the offices of over 270 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both houses of Congress to discuss freight rail regulation, infrastructure investments and more. Railroaders met with offices representing Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as House Representatives Mike Johnson (R-La.), Hakeem Jeffries (R-N.Y.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and hundreds of others.
ASLRRA is welcoming companies interested in sponsoring Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. Sponsors are recognized in various ways at the event, in ASLRRA publications and on social media. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or with questions about sponsorship should contact Amy Westerman.
The 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition schedule for education sessions and committee meetings is now online, along with descriptions and speaker lists for the sessions.
Due to the earlier start and later finish of education sessions, conference attendees are urged to arrive on Sunday and stay until Wednesday to take advantage of all this year’s event has to offer. Register today for the conference and join industry colleagues in Denver.
Education sessions and committee meetings will start on Sunday afternoon, April 6, at 1 p.m. The last education sessions will end at 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. This is a change from prior year’s schedule. Please be aware of these changes when making flight and hotel reservations.
Offered this year are 42 sessions across 12 industry tracks, with topics appealing to individuals working in all parts of the railroad industry. There will be presentations discussing the legal concerns regarding artificial intelligence, signal employee and dispatcher certification, data analytics, Railroad Retirement Board benefits, outside party projects and many more.
Attendees are also encouraged to book lodging in ASLRRA’s hotel block before rooms are sold out. Click here to go to ASLRRA’s event lodging page for information regarding room availability, rates, booking deadlines and direct links to each hotel.
Fatiguefit LLC, based in San Antonio, Texas, empowers railroad operators to achieve fatigue risk management regulatory compliance easily and cost-effectively. It combines 30 years of rail industry experience with evidence-based fatigue management research and its suite of digital FRM solutions are unique in combining world-leading fatigue management science with deep rail experience. VP-U.S. Operations Michael Brazytis is our primary contact and can be reached on (210) 240-0475 or visit their website at fatiguefit.com. Learn more about them by visiting Booth #925 at the ASLRRA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Denver.
On Track Controls (OTC), based in Calgary, is a global provider of locomotive electronic equipment and modernization services for the rail and marine industries. Equipped with a comprehensive range of solutions, including locomotive microprocessors, equipment modernization, and integration of cutting-edge technologies, it is well-prepared to meet specific requirements. In addition, OTC has the flexibility to develop niche locomotive control systems for new, existing, and repowered alternatively fueled locomotives. Commercial Lead Les Wood is our primary contact and can be reached on (773) 577-9440. Many thanks to Quality Turbo for recommending that they join our Association. Learn more about OTC by visiting Booth #451 at the ASLRRA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Denver.
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.
Yesterday afternoon, ASLRRA sent out annual membership dues for 2025, emailing them to the billing contact on each member company account. The invoices came from accountsreceivable@aslrra.org and the subject line reads, "Your ASLRRA 2025 Member Dues Invoice Is Ready."
Payment instructions are included in the email and on the PDF attachment of the invoice. ASLRRA is grateful for its members and their continued support of and participation in the Association. The entire staff looks forward to a productive year working on behalf of all those it represents.
Members can contact Danialle Lovik or Kathy Keeney via email with any questions.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, ASLRRA has had to make adjustments to its 2025 training seminar schedule. The Association urges all those attending or planning to attend a seminar this year to review the changes and update their calendars.
The General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) seminar, originally planned for March 11 to 13, is now tentatively scheduled to take place Sept. 9 to 10 in Freeport, Maine. With that move, the ASLRRA Leadership Development – Regulatory Module seminar will now be held May 6 to 7, though still in Freeport.
ASLRRA’s other scheduled training events will continue as planned. The hotel room block expires Friday, Jan. 31 for the FRA Drug & Alcohol (Part 219) and DER Roundtable being held Feb. 25 to 27 in San Diego, California. Seminar attendees who have not already done so are urged to book their lodging in the room block as soon as possible.
View other upcoming seminars using the link below, and continue monitoring ASLRRA communications for any additional updates to the training schedule.
ASLRRA is committed to helping employees of small railroads take advantage of critical training opportunities. Scholarships are available – click here to learn more.
ASLRRA continues to seek nominations for individuals wishing to run for election to the Association’s board of directors representing associate business members (suppliers). Nominations are due Feb. 7.
There are two board seats representing associate members and there is one board vacancy that will need to be filled. A member looking to suggest themselves or nominate a candidate should contact Nominating Committee Co-Chairs Steve Friedland of Short Line Data Systems or Beth Garguilo of Lincoln Transportation Insurance Brokers. She can be reached on Beth.Garguilo@lincolnins.com or (315) 768-6110 and he can be reached on sfriedland@sdsrocs.com or (973) 769-6505. ASLRRA staff will assist with the election process.
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.
Jo Strang and Chuck Baker participated in the 2025 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Council on Rail Transportation Winter Legislative Meeting today in Arlington, Virginia. They joined a panel discussion titled “Partner Association Updates,” with Strang talking about Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) due to her role as OLI chair.
ASLRRA’s Engineering Committee held a working group meeting hosted by supplier member A&K Railroad Materials in Pueblo, Colorado. JR Gelnar, the Association’s staff liaison on the committee, attended. The meeting focused on developing short line engineering safe work procedures, which the working group plans to make available to ASLRRA members by the end of the year.
Members of the Engineering Committee (L to R) ASLRRA staff liaison JR Gelnar, Jim Huenefeldt, Kyle Kellem and Michael Atzert toured EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel as part of their meeting in Colorado.
Aram Gavoor, Associate Dean and Professor at The George Washington University Law School, will discuss emergency authorities granted to agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to regulate the railroad industry and others, separate from rulemaking procedures memorialized in the Administrative Procedures Act. Prof. Gavoor will be joined by ASLRRA SVP & General Counsel Sarah Yurasko for a facilitated audience Q&A session following the presentation.
Presented by:
ASLRRA subject-matter experts are often presenters during the Association’s live webinars, offering their insight and expertise to discussions on a variety of topics including those related to regulatory compliance and legal issues.
The Association’s On-Demand Webinar Library offers recordings of these webinars, many of which also include copies of the PDF presentations made during the live sessions. Look for the following titles online:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
Michigan State University’s (MSU) Broad College of Business is now enrolling individuals in this year’s iteration of its Railway Management Certificate Program, which takes place over the course of four weeks at four different locations across the country.
The program is meant for those aiming to become senior managers and leaders in the rail industry. Content covers topics related to the whole rail industry, and often ASLRRA staff offers presentations during the second program module focused on railway regulations and safety.
The program takes place on the MSU campus and in Washington D.C., Newark, New Jersey, Pueblo, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois. There is an early-bird registration discount on the entire program, which expires Feb. 28. There are also discounts available for multiple participants from the same firm. In addition to instructional materials and faculty and staff support, the program cost covers lodging and some daily meals.
Progressive Railroading magazine is accepting nominations for its 2025 Rising Stars Awards, which recognize up-and-coming leaders in the North American rail industry.
Nominees will be evaluated based on their contributions to their organization and their work in the industry. To be eligible for the award, they must be under the age of 40 as of Sept. 1, 2025.
The nomination deadline is March 14. Winners will be featured in the September issue of Progressive Railroading and honored in a virtual ceremony on July 23.
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.