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.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 25, marks two very important deadlines for those planning to attend Railroad Day on Capitol Hill on March 4 and ASLRRA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition in April.
Railroad Day on Capitol Hill – Online Registration Closes Feb. 25
Online registration closes on Feb. 25 for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. After Feb. 25, attendees may register in person on March 4. Register here.
Registering before Feb. 25 helps secure meetings because many offices are unwilling to confirm unless a constituent is planning to attend. Registering early also provides attendees the best chance to be slated for meetings in districts where their company operates.
“If you want the best shot at getting into your preferred meetings register online by Feb. 25,” said ASLRRA Vice President, Congressional Affairs Nicole Brewin. “If you miss the online registration date, we welcome your participation, but you will be assigned to meetings on an as-available basis.”
To learn more about the top policy issues planned for Capitol Hill meetings, see the article in the Legislative section below.
ASLRRA Annual Conference & Exhibition – Registration Rates Increase Feb. 25
Registration rates will increase after Feb. 25 for ASLRRA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, which takes place April 12-14, and ASLRRA discounted hotel rooms are selling out! You will not want to miss the industry’s premier event!
Click here to learn more and register. The cutoff date for booking a room at the group rate is March 11.
ASLRRA is excited to announce the event’s newest featured speaker, Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George (left). George and Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink will speak during the General Session on April 14, while BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer will speak during the April 13 General Session.
In addition to these dynamic industry experts, ASLRRA will honor industry excellence during both General Sessions, recognizing winners of the Business Development Awards, Veterans Engagement Award and Green Spark Award, as well as
There will also be nearly 50 breakout education sessions across 12 industry tracks, offering the most up-to-date information on important railroad topics such as grant project delivery, being a short line advocate, locomotive fuel optimization, wayside detector technology, cybersecurity and AI.
And of course, attendees will be able to take part in multiple formal and informal networking opportunities, including walking through the 276 booths in the Exhibit Hall.
While very limited, there are still a few booth spaces and sponsorships available for ASLRRA members to purchase. Click here to learn about reserving a booth, or click here to learn more about sponsorships. Individuals can also contact the meetings team to ask a question about sponsorships or booth sales.
On Feb. 17, Class I railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) filed a letter with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) informing the board of their intent to submit a revised merger application on April 30.
Yesterday was the deadline for UP and NS to inform the STB whether they planned to submit a revised application. The railroads had filed an initial application on Dec. 19, 2025, but STB members found the submission lacked required information and unanimously ruled it incomplete.
In a press release issued on that initial ruling, the STB said that its rejection of the application was based solely on its incomplete nature and should not be thought of as an indication as to how the board might rule on a future application. In November, ASLRRA filed a notice of intent to participate in the STB’s review of the proposed consolidation. The Association still plans to participate in any proceedings.
With Railroad Day on Capitol Hill only two weeks away, this year’s top policy issues have been finalized. Event attendees will focus on these topics in discussions to communicate some of the most pressing issues facing the freight rail industry and zero in on concrete decisions elected officials can make to best support not only freight railroads, but their customers and their suppliers.
The top policy issues for 2026 are:
Register online before Feb. 25 to be able to indicate any preferred meetings and note a location that can be leveraged to secure meetings with elected officials and their staff. Also registered participants should be sure to join an online training event on Feb. 24 or 26 to ensure familiarity with the day’s processes, talking points and other important details.
ASLRRA has signed a coalition letter to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) expressing support for H.R. 1163, the Prove It Act of 2025, and urging the House of Representatives to pass the bill.
The bill would strengthen the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) to help prevent noncompliance with the RFA by federal agencies. Rules in the RFA are meant to minimize regulatory burdens on small businesses, but bill proponents argue that agencies “often improperly certify that rules will not have a significant impact” on these entities.
The Prove It Act would enable small businesses, nonprofit organizations and small local governments to ask the Small Business Administration (SBA) to review certification that a proposed rule would not have a substantial economic impact on them.
Despite the partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Congress is out of session and not scheduled to return until Feb. 23.
Due to funding provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies have funding to continue their operations. However, other agencies within DHS like the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be affected. On Monday, Democrats submitted their latest counteroffer with ICE and CPB reforms to the White House, but any in-person discussions are unlikely to happen before next week.
Bridgewater Equipment is family owned and operated specializing in railroad maintenance and construction. Located in San Bernardino, California, Bridgewater’s Heavy Equipment and Trucks are positioned for a fast response to any railroad emergency and are available 24/7. Primary contact and Vice President, Dave Bridgewater, Jr. can be reached at (909) 887-0052 or by email at davejr@bridgewaterequipment.com.
Schweizer Electronic AG is headquartered in Reiden, Switzerland. Family-owned Schweizer Electronic AG has been developing, producing and distributing future-oriented roadway worker protection equipment and level crossings for railway safety since 1964. International Sales Manager and our primary contact, Stig Oliver Buch, can be reached by email at stig_oliver.buch@schweizer-electronic.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.
Registration is open for ASLRRA’s first two in-person training seminars of 2026, the Part 219 Drug and Alcohol Training and Designated Employer Representative (DER) Roundtable and the DSLE and Part 217 Railroad Operating Rules Training Seminar.
The drug and alcohol seminar 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.
The Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineer (DSLE) training seminar will be held June 2 to 3 in Freeport, Maine. It will cover DSLE responsibilities, including application and administration of 49 CFR Part 240 and Part 242, and Part 217 railroad operating rules.
Space in both seminars is limited, so individuals are encouraged to register early.
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. 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.
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.
As an 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 they are in line with industry regulations with compliance reports, while also helping them to plan repairs in the most efficient way possible.
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.
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: OmniTRAX Holdings Combined Short Lines – Alabama & Tennessee River Railway, LLC, Chicago Rail Link, LLC, Illinois Railway, LLC, Newburgh & South Shore Railroad, LLC, and the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad
Fiscal Year: 2023/2024
CRISI Grant: $40,955,000
Local Match: $10,239,000 (20%)
Total Project Cost: $51,194,000
The Yard Area Rail Decongestion and Safety (YARDS) Project will increase railroad safety, reliability, and efficiency by rehabilitating and restoring railroad yards on five railroads in four states. YARDS will group five components with independent utility into one holding company application. This will maximize investment while minimizing administration and other challenges. YARDS will rapidly deploy capital to generate public benefits by focusing on simple, state of good repair investments at a current year cost of $51,194,000. YARDS will enable more efficient operations that will result in better utilization of equipment and crews, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and particulate matter (PM 2.5), better service to customers and additional capacity to handle traffic growth. Emissions reduction value will be greatest in disadvantaged communities where all these yards are located. YARDS will generate $95,948,000 in benefits with a discounted benefit-cost ratio of 2.27-to-1.00 while supporting 65 rail union jobs.
Notable Quotes
“The Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad (STE) is a strategic rail asset in Stockton, California. STE is an economic engine for industries in California, Stockton, and San Francisco and supports railroad customers that employ hundreds of workers while sustaining supports millions of dollars in economic activity. YARDS will rehabilitate the East Yard in Stockton, CA to improve safety, efficiency, and customer service. YARDS will optimize the existing yard configuration and restore tracks and switches to a condition that will allow for long term operations at a safe and efficient level. Most of all, YARDS is designed to address the shortcomings of the East Yard quickly, effectively, and efficiently.”
Last week, Fred Oelsner traveled to Columbia, Maryland to participate in the Defend the Railroad Cyber Security Collaborative, which brought together cyber experts from throughout the rail industry. ASLRRA was one of the event’s supporting organizations, and Brian LaGore of ASLRRA member Paducah & Louisville Railway was one of the event speakers.
This week, Oelsner will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia to attend a meeting of the Association of American Railroads’ Rail Information Security Committee. Norfolk Southern is the meeting host.
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
ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library features recordings of presentations on a variety of important freight rail topics, led by industry- and subject-matter experts.
These recordings include “Building a Successful Drone Program,” “FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements for CDL Drivers” and “Trenchless Culvert Rehabilitation: Design & Installation Methodology.”
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.
ASLRRA President Chuck Baker will be a keynote speaker at the 2026 Rails to the Future conference hosted by Michigan State University (MSU). The event will take place May 11 to 13 at the MSU Management Education Center in Troy, Michigan.
The theme of this year’s conference is 200 Years of Progress, Building What’s Next. Joining Baker as keynote speakers are Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink, Surface Transportation Board Chair Patrick Fuchs, Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies and MSU Broad College Dean David Souder.
Other event speakers will also include representatives from the short line railroad industry: R. J. Corman Railroad Group President and CEO Justin Broyles, Anacostia Rail Holdings Company President and CEO Peter Gilbertson, Trinity Rail Senior Vice President Patrick Hurst and Lake State Railway Company President and CEO Mike Stickel.
Freight rail advocacy nonprofit GoRail will host a webinar on Feb. 26 titled “The Modern Railroad: Technology Driving the Future of Freight.” Click here to learn more and register. Participation is free.
Speakers include Daniel Anderson of ASLRRA member parent company Trinity Industries. Anderson and representatives from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Norfolk Southern and BNSF Railway will discuss the current state of technology in the industry, which is helping make freight rail even safer, more efficient and more sustainable. This includes automated track inspection systems, smart railcars and digital portals.
MxV Rail announced a Student Travel Grant Program to help fund student attendance at the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Research Review, being held April 28 to 30 at MxV Rail’s facility in Pueblo, Colorado. Applications are due March 6.
This event was formerly known as University Days. Students can be reimbursed up to $1,500 to cover travel costs, along with being awarded complimentary registration. All full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in ABET-accredited U.S. institutions are eligible for the scholarship.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
