Mt. Rainier Acquires New Shop Facility
South Carolina’s Palmetto Railways reactivating route dormant since 2012
Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ will visit NEPA in June
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 Annual Conference kicks off Sunday, April 12, when the Association will welcome over 1,600 attendees to the Minneapolis Convention Center for three days of short-line-focused networking and education.
Those who have already registered will receive a Know Before You Go email on Thursday. The email includes important event information, as well as the most recent list of attendees.
Anyone still planning to attend the conference can register online, even after the event starts on Sunday. Online registration is recommended to avoid any potential delays trying to register in person at the convention center.
Looking Forward to Speakers, a Full Expo Hall and Engaging Networking
The Association is excited for all that this year’s conference offers, including keynote speakers BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer, NS President and CEO Mark George and FRA Administrator David Fink. Experts from across the industry will present over 40 hours of engaging education sessions in 12 different tracks.
The Expo Hall also promises to be a one-stop shop for railroaders. In addition to the chance to visit with suppliers offering a wide range of rail-related products and services, attendees can speak directly with representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Retirement Board and Short Line Safety Institute, among others. New this year, ASLRRA will have its own booth in the middle of the hall, enabling attendees to meet with staff and members of the government affairs team.
Fun networking opportunities are another conference mainstay. This year, along with multiple receptions in the Expo Hall, ASLRRA is offering a Tuesday evening event at Topgolf. All railroad members can attend the Topgolf event for free, though they must add the registration to their ticket to reserve a spot.
New Tourist Railroad Working Group, Other Committees to Meet
One important component of ASLRRA’s Annual Conference is the chance for all the Association’s committees and working groups to meet in person. Fifteen committees will meet at some point from Sunday to Tuesday. Please see the meeting schedule for times and locations and to view any restrictions on meeting attendance.
The Tourist and Excursion Working Group will meet on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. This meeting is open to any member railroad which operates or hosts passenger excursions. The working group was formed last fall and has held three meetings to date.
At least thirty ASLRRA full-member railroads operate or host passenger excursions, and thirty-three additional associate-member railroads are exclusively in the tourist and excursion business. Together, ASLRRA member railroads carried almost five million passengers in 2025. Anyone interested in this topic is encouraged to attend.
To be added to the working group email list, join future calls or participate, please contact staff liaison Jo Strang at jstrang@aslrra.org, working group Chair Alan Maples at alan.maples@everettrailroad.com or secretary Christopher Homco at chomco@fmwsolutions.com.
The April edition of the Railroad Retirement Board’s monthly Q&A series discusses dual payment benefits, when individuals may be entitled to both a railroad retirement annuity and a social security benefit.
The RRB notes those who are entitled to social security or certain other benefits may see their railroad benefit annuity payments affected. Not reporting dual entitlement can lead to annuity overpayment, which would need to be repaid and could include interest and penalties.
The Q&A explains why a railroad retirement annuity is reduced when a social security benefit is also payable. The tier I portion of a railroad retirement annuity is based both on railroad retirement and social security earnings, so this portion would be reduced if any social security benefit is paid based on nonrailroad employment. Tier II portions of a railroad retirement annuity are not reduced because they are based on railroad service and earnings alone.
Also discussed are whether receipt of federal, state or local government pensions reduce railroad annuities, restrictions when both married spouses are entitled to railroad retirement annuities and if receiving workers’ compensation or public disability benefits has an effect on annuities.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has presented its calculation for the change in railroad productivity for the 2020-2024 averaging period. Any comments addressing perceived data and computational errors can be filed, however, barring any further order postponing the effective date, the decision will take effect April 18.
Every year the STB calculates the change in how efficiently railroads move freight. According to the STB, the calculation is made “by comparing year-to-year the average cost of producing a unit of railroad output.” The STB proposes to adopt 1.015 as the measure of average change in railroad productivity for the 2020-2024 period, which is an increase of 0.1% from the 2019-2023 average. Click here to view the full decision text.
Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) announced its schedule of public meetings to gather feedback on transportation projects for the draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-2032 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP).
There will be nine meetings across the state between late April and late May. According to the CTB’s announcement, the draft SYIP “allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects.” The document also identifies projects proposed for inclusion in the final program. These include projects in the public transportation and rail category.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will also be gathering feedback on its FY 2027-2032 SYIP. The DRPT will hold a virtual public meeting on this topic on May 27.
In a letter to the leaders of the House Appropriations Committee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee, 130 representatives expressed their support for full funding of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program in the fiscal year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The letter to Subcommittee Chair Steve Womack (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member James Clyburn (D-S.C.) describes various benefits of the CRISI program, including generating $2.9 billion in infrastructure investment across 48 states. These investments have helped further improve the safety and reliability of freight rail service nationwide. Providing CRISI program funding at the fully authorized level is beneficial to railroads, particularly short lines, and the businesses and communities they serve.
A similar letter to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee THUD Subcommittee is currently in the works. ASLRRA staff is reaching out to all Senate offices to encourage them to sign on. ASLRRA has also called on members of the Association’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) to join the effort, noting that direct communication from constituents can be particularly effective.
The deadline for senators to sign the CRISI letter is April 14. Anyone looking to get involved or learn more about how to encourage their senator to sign the letter should contact Nicole Brewin.
Quintess AI builds AI agents for Engineering and Mechanical maintenance operations. Track inspectors, field crews, and mechanics report work, log defects, look up parts, and get repair guidance by phone or mobile app - the AI handles structured data entry and system updates behind the scenes. This reduces administrative burdens and provides maintenance leaders with the real-time visibility needed to prioritize tasks and make smarter investment decisions. Primary Contact and CEO, Zach Esmili, can be reached by email, zach@quintess.ai.
Azelis Agricultural and Environmental Solutions — formerly Red River Specialties — is excited to join ASLRRA and support members with industry leading vegetation management solutions. Their experts deliver tailored herbicide strategies — from premium individual products to custom full acre blends — helping railroad rights of way stay clear, safe, and operational year round. Connect with their team today to see how they can support your vegetation management program. Chuck Wilcox, Technical Sales Representative, is available by phone at (970) 837-6923.
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 extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Cory Lee Respondek, who passed away on March 31. Respondek, 42, was owner and president of ASLRRA member Squaw Creek Southern Railroad.
In addition to being a proud member of ASLRRA and Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals, Inc., Respondek nurtured a variety of interests. Among many other things he was a DJ at The Vine radio station, pursued storm chasing and took flying lessons.
Respondek is survived by his parents, sister, brother, niece and other extended family.
ASLRRA members’ quarterly account statements and balance reminders have been sent to members. Billing or primary contacts should have received an account statement or invoice reminder over the past two weeks. Quarterly reminders are intended to provide a summary of members’ account activity, including any payments processed and the ending balance owed.
Payments can be made online by using the links in each invoice. Online payment options include credit card and ACH (eCheck), processed through our secure payment portal, and apply directly to the invoice. If intending to pay by mailed check, please confirm the correct address, including zip code. Be sure to reference the invoice number associated with the balance due.
For questions or a copy of the invoice(s) referenced, please reach out to Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik at dlovik@aslrra.org.
ASLRRA is grateful to its members for their continued participation in the Association.
ASLRRA welcomes a spring semester intern, Chris Konstantopoulos. For the next few months he will work with the Association’s government affairs team on issues related to short line advocacy.
Konstantopoulos is looking forward to his work with ASLRRA as it will offer insight into policy issues and how individuals and organizations can have an impact on federal decision making.
“The most exciting part of interning [at ASLRRA] is having the possibility to go to the offices of members of Congress and talk with their staff,” said Konstantopoulos. “The most interesting part is understanding how important short line railroads are and how policy directly affects the American people.”
Konstantopoulos is a political science student at Union College. After graduating he hopes to attend law school and become a military lawyer, with the goal to take on roles that involve creating or influencing policy. He is originally from Waltham, Massachusetts, where one of his favorite activities growing up was playing hockey. He is a fan of the Washington Capitals hockey team and also enjoys reading in his spare time.
ASLRRA is once again delivering a full schedule of industry-specific training in 2026. Training is conducted by subject matter experts from ASLRRA, Iowa Northern Railway Company, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
These seminars focus on improving railroad safety and compliance with FRA regulations, fostering understanding and mastery of railroad operating practices and cultivating leadership skills through professional development activities and exercises. Below is a list of training seminars with confirmed dates and locations. Click here to see additional upcoming seminars as well as event details and online registration and hotel booking links.
Several of ASLRRA’s in-person seminars are eligible for the Association’s scholarship program. The Doug Golden Scholarship awards up to $1,200 to small-railroad employees to cover registration fees and travel and lodging costs.
Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Click here to learn more about the scholarship and submit an application.
Wi-Tronix, a Preferred Provider in ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program, offers valuable products and services to Association members. The company will be in the Expo Hall at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference. See them in Booth 611.
Wi-Tronix provides digital onboard solutions. 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.
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 Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced it is accepting project applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2026/2027 Georgia Freight Rail Program (GFRP). The application period closes June 1.
Click here to view the GFRP notice of funding opportunity letter, and click here to view the GFRP application guide. The guide includes an overview of the application review and award process and explains how projects are selected.
Funding will be awarded to owners and operators of Class I and short line railroads at a share of 67% to 33%, respectively. Some considerations for applications include the extent to which projects enhance public safety and mobility of goods, improve trade and economic development and have a positive impact on air quality or land use.
The GFRP comprises three sub-programs, the Rail Enhancement Program, Rail Preservation Program and Rail Industrial Access Program. These cover efforts to acquire, lease or improve railways or railroad equipment; acquire, lease or improve short line railways; and construct, restructure or improve industrial access to railroad tracks and related facilities. Funding for the GFRP is made possible through the Georgia Locomotive Fuel Tax Program.
Five freight rail projects in Minnesota will receive $4.5 million in funding from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) through the Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program.
Two of the awards will go to ASLRRA members. Cloquet Terminal Railroad will receive $840,000 to upgrade 2,500 feet of older track and improve two switch points on the railroad’s mainline. Minnesota Northern Railroad will receive $750,000 to extend its rail terminal into the Crookston Industrial Park. The project includes installing over 2,600 feet of new track, adding a switch and constructing a new turnout.
The three remaining awards will go to shippers to improve existing or establish new rail connections.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) approved funding for two rail projects and awarded funds to help short line railroads compete for federal funding through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program.
Funding for the two projects will go to the Ross County Engineer’s Office to replace a roadway bridge over the state-owned Jackson Rail Line. Meanwhile, Winchester Ag Service, Inc. will receive funding to rehabilitate rail infrastructure at the company’s Winchester facility.
ORDC also will partner with three ASLRRA members on applications for CRISI grants. ORDC approved funding for projects by the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, Indiana Northeastern Railroad and Indiana & Ohio Railway.
Check out the following webinars in the Operations & Safety category addressing a range of railcar alerts, maintenance and billing issues. All four webinars are available to ASLRRA members online at any time in the Association’s On-Demand Webinar Library.
ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinars cover a variety of topics, from industry-specific finance, human resources and legal issues to business development, strategic communications and more. Browse over 200 recorded webinars online at any time.
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 University of Illinois Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) William W. Hay Engineering Seminar will take place April 17 via online presentation.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Assistant Professor Yuanchen Zeng will present a talk titled “Non-Intrusive Inspection and Predictive Maintenance of Railway Tracks and Vehicles Leveraging their Interaction.” His presentation will discuss recent research on inspection, assessment and maintenance strategies that rely on vehicle–track interaction data.
Registration for the event is free but required. Individuals can also receive 1.5 professional development hours (PDHs) for a $25 fee.
The League of Railway Women (LRW) will host its fourth annual symposium on June 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. Registration is now open for the event.
The theme of this year’s symposium is “Laying the Tracks Forward: Strengthening Your Story.” Events will include two off-site tours of the CSX Railroad Education and Development Institute (REDI) and Norfolk Southern headquarters and panel sessions on AI in rail and talent acquisition.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
