Feb. 10: Fort Wayne Railroad offering Valentine's excursions
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's 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, the short line industry’s premier event, is where you will want to be April 12 to 14. Join the nearly 1,000 industry colleagues who have already committed to being there. Whether as an attendee, a sponsor or an exhibitor, there are numerous benefits for all who participate.
Already, space in the conference exhibit hall is nearly sold out, with 90% of booths accounted for. Conference hotel room blocks are also filling quickly, with one hotel sold out and the others at 75% capacity. Click here to view available hotels.
Short line railroad professionals and other stakeholders are eager to take advantage of the many opportunities offered at the Annual Conference. There will be dynamic keynote speakers including Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink and BNSF CEO Katie Farmer. There are also over 40 hours of education breakout sessions, multiple networking opportunities including a closing event at Topgolf, over 200 companies set up in the Exhibit Hall and the chance to meet with leaders and experts from across the industry.
Click here to register for the conference, which takes place April 12 to 14. Registration rates will increase after Feb. 25.
The Association also continues to sell event sponsorships, though there are only a few sponsorship opportunities still available at each price point. Click here to learn more. Individuals can also contact the meetings team to ask a question about sponsorships or booth sales.
ASLRRA has posted updated resources in the Compliance Templates section of its website in response to two rules issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Compliance Templates are an ASLRRA member benefit.
ASLRRA’s new resources for a final rule concerning emergency escape breathing apparatus (EEBAs) include a program template and a compliance program and training introductory information document. These can be found under Part 227 in the Association’s Compliance Templates webpage. Rule text can be found in the online Code of Federal Regulations system.
The FRA published a final rule requiring railroads that transport poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials to provide EEBAs for all employees in the locomotive, and develop programs for procuring and maintaining EEBAs and training employees in their use. The rule will go into effect for Class I and II railroads in March, and for Class III railroads in September.
The second updated resource concerns the recent final rule regarding Reflectorization of Rail Freight Rolling Stock. ASLRRA revised two definitions in the Part 224 Training PowerPoint, which is found in the Part 243 templates. Members utilizing this template should use the updated PowerPoint.
Anyone with questions about these updated resources should contact JR Gelnar.
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Patrick Fuchs published updates regarding planned agency actions. These updates continue efforts by Fuchs to promote STB transparency and accountability.
The STB’s press release describes 13 actions, one of which concerns a policy statement on preemption. STB members had agreed to consider issuing a policy statement on preemption after receiving a letter signed by a coalition of industry organizations, including ASLRRA, requesting guidance on the issue. Fuchs said he intends to offer a draft action for consideration by the full board in May.
Other proceedings concern petitions for declaratory orders and rulemakings, operating rights and abandonment issues, acquisition of control and more.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) announced that Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) tax forms for those who received unemployment or sickness benefits in calendar year 2025 are now available online. No other online tax forms are currently available for railroad retirement annuitants.
The 1099-G shows the total amount of unemployment benefits paid in 2025, while the W-2 shows the total amount of sickness benefits paid. Both detail federal tax withholdings. Railroad workers who received unemployment or sickness benefits can access their W-2 and/or 1099-G forms online through their myRRB accounts. Individuals must log in and click Access My Tax Documents to view and download them.
With the funding process for fiscal year (FY) 2026 wrapping up, ASLRRA has turned its attention to the FY 2027 process, sending letters with FY 2027 funding requests to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as Senate and House Transportation, Housing, Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittees.
The letters to members of Congress provide an overview of the short line freight rail industry and its role in the national supply chain. In the call for funding, ASLRRA emphasizes a need for robust financial support for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program. ASLRRA outlines how the program contributes to further improvement in short line safety and efficiency and further details ways lawmakers can help ensure the program best supports small railroads.
The letter to the USDOT and OMB ask agency leaders to request the full authorized amount for CRISI in their respective FY 2027 budget requests. The letter also urges them to support continued funding for the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI).
ASLRRA also requests robust funding for SLSI and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. in its letters to members of Congress, noting the important roles these organizations play in advancing and raising awareness of rail safety. The Association thanked the committees for their previous support of both organizations.
Since Jan. 30, six members of the House of Representatives have signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 516, the 45G short line tax credit modernization bill, bringing the total number up to 147.
The newest cosponsors are Representatives Brian Babin (R-Texas), Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Rick Larsen (D-Wa.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). Their support demonstrates the bipartisan backing enjoyed by the bill, which would increase the current short line infrastructure tax credit, index the credit to inflation going forward and expand program eligibility to all short line track.
The 45G modernization bill will be an important discussion topic at this year’s Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, which takes place March 4 in Washington, D.C. Railroaders will be able to tell elected officials and their staff exactly how the tax credit helps them make important infrastructure investments that boost safety and operational efficiency.
Click here to register for Railroad Day. ASLRRA urges interested individuals to sign up before online registration closes on Feb. 25, as doing so enables the Association to leverage participation information when scheduling meetings.
These first-hand accounts directly from railroaders illustrate the ways lawmaker support has a tangible effect on railroad operations and are instrumental in encouraging officials to become champions of the freight rail industry. ASLRRA encourages its members to participate in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill and represent their colleagues as citizen lobbyists.
Already there are 200 confirmed meetings with congressional offices, with more being added every day. Officials are eager to meet with constituents from their districts, so having a diverse group of participants helps encourage even more lawmakers to agree to meet on March 4.
The House and Senate are in session this week. Lawmakers in the House and Senate will be focused on negotiating funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is currently funded under a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that will expire this Friday.
Democrats continue to demand significant changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol policies and procedures, which Republicans have so far rebuffed. Some lawmakers are looking at passing another short-term CR to buy more negotiating time.
Calbrandt is a US manufacturer of railcar handling equipment specializing in railcar movers / indexers, gate openers, and related systems for grain, bulk material, and industrial rail-served facilities. Calbrandt supports both new construction and retrofit projects, delivering engineered solutions designed to improve safety, reliability, and throughput. Calbrandt’s Sales Engineer, Treycen Eckman, can be reached by email at teckman@calbrandt.com.
Industrial Track Solutions (ITS) is the developer of SwitchPath Lights™ (SPL), an illuminated switch position indication system designed to improve clarity at turnouts. SPL visually displays the aligned track route within the gauge to support safer, more confident switching operations. Our primary contact and president of ITS, Dana Haake, can be reached by email at dana@industrialtracksolutions.com.
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.
ASLRRA’s popular DSLE and Part 217 Railroad Operating Rules Training Seminar, will be held June 2 to 3 in Freeport, Maine, and interested individuals can now register for the event.
This seminar will cover Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineer (DSLE) responsibilities, including application and administration of 49 CFR Part 240 and Part 242, and Part 217 railroad operating rules. The seminar will be led by subject-matter experts JR Gelnar, ASLRRA’s vice president, safety and compliance, Mark Vaughn, Iowa Northern Railway Company’s vice president and chief operating officer, and Kevin Lewis, Federal Railroad Administration’s program manager certification specialist.
Space is limited, so individuals are encouraged to register early.
ASLRRA has also opened up registration for the Part 219 Drug and Alcohol Training and Designated Employer Representative (DER) Roundtable, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona from March 24 to 26. This seminar provides an in-depth review of all sections of Part 219, including requirements for railroads and contractors. The third day of the seminar features a roundtable discussion for short line railroad DERs.
Click here to view the planned 2026 training schedule. ASLRRA continues to finalize the 2026 training seminar schedule and will update its website with registration links and other details as they become available.
ASLRRA has a limited number of scholarships available to help employees of small railroads attend Association seminars like the Part 219 Drug & Alcohol Training. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted now for future attendance at an ASLRRA event. Follow the link above to learn about available scholarships and submit an application.
Wi-Tronix, a Preferred Provider in ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program, offers valuable digital onboard solutions to Association members.
Short line railroads can use the company’s Violet Edge system to operate locomotives smarter, safer and more efficiently. The Violet Edge solution includes locomotive-installed hardware with options for adding video and compliance tracking.
Violet 830 hardware provides real-time locomotive tracking capabilities along with live monitoring of fuel usage, fuel monitoring, and excess idle reporting. The Violet 800 series hardware includes all the functions of the Violet 830 and is also an FRA-approved event recorder (ER), digital video recorder (DVR), and PTC recorder.
For more on Wi-Tronix and a full listing of products available, members can login and click here. To join ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program, contact ASLRRA’s Senior Vice President, Education and Business Services Sabrina Waiss.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved safety upgrades at a crossing owned by ASLRRA member Kanawha River Railroad (KNWA). KNWA will receive $405,859 in federal funds to help pay for the project, which will install gates and flashing lights at a crossing in Meigs County, Ohio.
This section highlights ASLRRA members that have received Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants, showcasing the importance of this funding and how benefits reach beyond the railroad itself.
If your railroad has received a CRISI grant and would like to submit information for this section please complete our online form.
Project Facts
Railroad: Iowa Interstate Railroad
Fiscal Year: 2017
CRISI Grant: $3,470,500
Local Match: $3,470,500 (50%)
Total Project Cost: $6,941,000
This project replaced the 118-year-old Booneville Bridge over the Raccoon River, located approximately 15 miles west of Des Moines. The bridge carries over 42,000 carloads per year on the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s (IAIS) Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Chicago, Illinois, service. The bridge was in danger of being put out of service in the near future under previous conditions, which would result in costly and inefficient rerouting of traffic and economic disruption in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and points beyond. The new bridge will be able to withstand increasingly common flooding events.
View a video of the completed project here.
Notable Quotes
“The majority of the 8,000 carloads we ship go over that bridge and if that infrastructure was out, it would have a multi-million-dollar impact on the efficiency and cost-competitiveness of our business.”
Nick Bowdish, CEO Elite Octane
In his ASLRRA Perspective column for the February issue of Railway Age magazine, Chuck Baker wrote about the need for short lines to “work harder, smarter and more creatively than ever” to succeed in an increasingly challenging legislative and political landscape.
Baker highlights the challenges currently facing short lines. These include a more divisive environment, where even bipartisan issues can struggle to receive the support needed to pass through Congress. And yet some pending legislation, such as the next surface transportation reauthorization bill and the 45G short line tax credit modernization bill, could significantly impact the freight rail industry.
Helping move critical legislation across the finish line in these times will take extra effort from short line professionals and industry stakeholders. Baker points out that Railroad Day on Capitol Hill offers a good opportunity to make personal connections with elected officials and speak with them about key freight rail issues.
Baker also acknowledges the potential changes that could occur with a merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. He emphasizes that ASLRRA will engage in the process but calls on members to help the Association understand how the merger would affect their businesses and what could be done to protect their interests. Baker encourages railroaders to attend ASLRRA’s Annual Conference in April to learn about current happenings in the short line industry and speak with colleagues about the merger and other important matters.
Nicole Brewin and Crystal Gitchell will attend the AASHTO Council on Rail Transportation (CORT) Winter Legislative Meeting in Arlington, Virginia on Feb. 11 and 12. Brewin will participate in the Partner Associations Update while Gitchell will take part in the Freight States Meeting. Both are slated to provide updates on ASLRRA policy initiatives.
Speakers from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will discuss real-time reporting requirements for Class 2 railroads and cover rules and their interpretations. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a question and answer segment at the end of the presentation.
Speakers: Alexander Wolcott, Acting Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch, PHMSA; Mark Maday, Staff Director, Hazardous Materials Division, Office of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical, FRA; Jo Strang, SVP, Safety, Regulatory, and Environmental Policy, ASLRRA
The railroad retirement webinars presented by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) are popular with members because of the comprehensive information provided about employee, spouse and survivor benefits and unemployment and sickness benefits. Members who may have missed the live online events can access recorded versions of the entire three-part series at any time in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library.
Each recording includes a link to important information on the RRB website and the option to download presentation materials. Also included in the recording is the audience Q&A.
Members can log in to access these webinar recordings at any time. Follow the link above to view these recent webinars or to browse the over 200 other recordings available in ASLRRA’s online library.
ASLRRA maintains an industry calendar featuring events that may be of interest to members. If you have an industry event you would like included on the calendar and possibly in Views & News, please send relevant event details and links to Mariel Takamura for consideration.
The next RailTEC William W. Hay Seminar will be presented in person and virtually via Zoom on Feb. 20. The speaker, Kevin Oldknow of Simon Fraser University, will offer a presentation titled “Contact Matters: Wheel-Rail Interface Fundamentals and Frontiers.”
Oldknow will discuss the fundamentals of wheel-rail contact and “more recent developments in the understanding of critical dynamics and damage modes that can have profound consequences for railway systems.”
Registration is required. Attendance is free, but 1.5 professional development hours are available for a $25 fee. Click here to register.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
