Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum celebrating local railroad's 60th anniversary
On the right track: Check out this classic dinner and social train ride in the Sandhills
Autonomous intermodal cars to begin testing this month
Sierra Northern Railway tests zero-emission switching locomotive
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.
For ASLRRA’s small-business railroad members – whose staff often take on multiple roles to ensure smooth operations – employee recruitment, hiring and training can be a difficult task to manage. But there are resources at the federal and state levels that aim to make it easier for businesses like short lines to find and onboard qualified individuals. These include personalized business services, grants and other funding assistance, apprenticeship programs and more.
The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) offers the CareerOneStop Business Center website with information to help organizations throughout the employment process. The Recruit & Hire page offers tips and links related to identifying hiring needs, finding candidates and improving the hiring process, while the Train & Retain page provides resources for identifying training needs, funding training and decreasing employee turnover.
Individual states’ departments of labor also provide workforce development resources and can provide more information specific to the area in which a business operates. One example is the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL).
NJDOL is committed to empowering businesses and individuals by providing a wealth of opportunities for growth and development. The department's focus on fostering industry partnerships as well as its comprehensive suite of services creates collaborative environments and tailored solutions designed to enhance workforce capabilities. Additionally, NJDOL offers grant opportunities to help businesses and organizations access the funding needed for expansion and development.
For individuals seeking to advance their careers, My Career NJ provides personalized tools and resources to navigate the job market effectively. Together, these initiatives underscore NJDOL's dedication to building a robust and dynamic workforce in New Jersey.
Links for New Jersey businesses include the NJDOL Business Services page, which features information about personalized business services representatives, specialty hiring programs and more. There is also the Industry Partnerships page with information about connecting business leaders with public partners, the Grant Opportunities page and the My Career NJ page for job seekers.
NJDOL also aids businesses like local short lines with veteran recruitment efforts, as military service members often have skills and experience that align with railroads’ needs. For example, NJDOL can connect organizations with the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, which helps individuals transition from the service to meaningful employment. Employers can set up hiring tables at TAP classes and speak briefly to attendees about their business and its employment needs.
In addition to traditional recruitment methods, apprenticeship programs are another way businesses can combine hiring and training. Registered apprenticeships are nationally recognized programs that combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction and mentorship to help workers prepare for highly skilled careers. It’s an area in which the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship is eager to help local businesses.
“Registered apprenticeship has gone through a sort of renaissance with the value it brings to employers in all industries,” said Shonda Anderson, director of the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. “It’s the highest value of earn-and-learn propositions, rethinking how we get into jobs. Workers have a job day one with integrated training, and employers can build long-term workforce planning.”
Under the U.S. Department of Labor’s apprenticeship program, about half of all states’ registered apprenticeship offices fall directly under the USDOL, while others, like that in Kansas, are state apprenticeship agencies that run their own programs in compliance with federal laws.
The goal of the Kansas office is to support and grow existing registered apprenticeship programs while adding new ones. These programs offer career pathways to individuals while also helping meet businesses’ talent needs.
“The state of Kansas is working extremely hard to make it easy for employers to engage in registered apprenticeship,” said Anderson. “We can get programs stood up in weeks.”
More information about Kansas’ Office of Registered Apprenticeship is available here, while specific information about starting an apprenticeship program is here.
New Jersey also has an Office of Apprenticeship, which offers tax credits for companies starting apprenticeship programs and grants for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. The grant period opened in October and closed in December 2024, but similar timelines for this year are anticipated.
Individuals in other states can learn about the USDOL’s apprenticeship resources at apprenticeship.gov, with specific information available about these opportunities in the transportation sector.
ASLRRA is eager to inform its members of important resources and help connect them with individuals and programs that offer aid in areas like workforce development. Reach out to the Association with more details or to ask a question about this topic.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold a virtual informal public hearing on its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule on June 16, but those who would like to register to speak at the hearing must submit a Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) by May 2.
ASLRRA invites its members to participate in the hearing. Anyone who wants to provide oral testimony or documentary evidence or question witnesses at the hearing must submit a NOITA. ASLRRA members have participated in discussions of the rule, including a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel convened by OSHA to discuss heat injury and illness. Those who want to view the hearing but do not want to participate do not need to submit a NOITA.
Contact ASLRRA’s Jo Strang for assistance with hearing participation.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it will authorize ASLRRA member Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad, Inc. (CORP) to take over local service of 27.58 miles of rail line in Oregon from Union Pacific Railroad Company.
In its decision, the STB said the transaction could increase efficiency and reduce costs, potentially resulting in better local service. Multiple shippers expressed their support for the transaction.
The benefits of collaboration between short lines and Class I railroads was a topic of discussion at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference last week, with the CORP decision being mentioned during the Tuesday General Session and freight rail industry analyst Tony Hatch noting in his education session how short lines can help Class Is grow business. Hatch’s comments were further reported in an article about short lines on the FreightWaves website.
BNSF Adds ASLRRA Member to Shortline Select Program
In another recent example of Class I and short line partnerships, BNSF has added ASLRRA Member Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) to its Shortline Select Program. RRVW operates over 500 miles of track in North Dakota and Minnesota, serving more than 70 customers.
Shortline Select is a collaboration between BNSF and short line railroads to help drive business growth by improving service through better communication, shipment tracking and data transparency and faster equipment turnaround. There are four other railroads in the program, all ASLRRA members. They are the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, Portland & Western Railway, Burlington Junction Railway and Texas Northwestern Railroad.
Those traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill now have two extra days to secure lodging in one of the Association’s room blocks, as participating hotels have extended the booking deadline until the end of this week.
There are already 255 individuals registered for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill 2025 and ASLRRA’s government affairs team has scheduled 176 meetings with lawmakers’ offices in both the House and Senate, but there is still room for many more participants. Anyone eager to advocate for rail industry issues, especially the short line tax credit modernization bill and Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant funding, is encouraged to attend.
ASLRRA also hopes to add more participants from California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, larger states that feature both higher numbers of elected officials and a significant railroad presence. Individuals can request meetings with offices in specific districts or states when they register for Railroad Day. Click here to visit the Railroad Day on Capitol Hill page, which includes details about the event, registration and hotel links and information about sponsorship opportunities.
On April 10, Representative Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) and a bipartisan group of six other lawmakers introduced the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) in the House, while Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
CORCA would establish a coordinated multi-agency response to organized retail crime, which includes cargo theft on railroads. In addition to creating the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the bill would enable increased agency collaboration to develop a cohesive anti-crime strategy and share resources.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued a press release in support of the Senate bill. In the release, AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies noted that Class I railroads experienced a 40 percent increase in cargo theft last year, comprising over 65,000 thefts that cost the industry over $100 million.
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, titled "Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241," meant to boost the coal industry.
The order reclassifies coal as a strategic national asset, enables access to coal on federal lands and identifies coal as a critical resource for emerging industries. The order also identifies coal as a mineral, bringing it under a previous executive order concerning U.S. mineral production and therefore extending to coal benefits meant for critical minerals. These benefits include streamlined regulations, priority in the permit process and facilitation of exports.
This year, 1,896 people attended ASLRRA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, exceeding the previous record set at the 2013 meeting commemorating the Association’s 100th anniversary.
Robust participation in the Annual Conference extended to all aspects of the event. The Rocky Mountaineer train excursion sold out weeks before the conference, and 350 participants took advantage of the special opportunity to travel in luxury, enjoying the mountain scenery from dome cars and lounge cars. Attendees were pleased with the food and beverage options and the personal customer service and narration provided onboard.
Nearly 300 people also attended the Lucky Strike event on Tuesday afternoon, with many individuals glad to have a non-golf option for a fun, laid-back networking opportunity. There were also high levels of participation in education sessions, strong attendance at both general sessions and in the Expo Hall, where supplier members staffed 250 booths.
Attendees Can Access Conference Information, Complete a Post-Conference Survey
Part of attending ASLRRA’s Annual Conference means gaining access to important resources after the event. Participants should have received a post-conference email on April 11 with links to the attendee list and conference photos, including the professional headshots taken in the Expo Hall. And, since it is impossible to attend every education session, the email also contains links to all session presentation materials.
Video from award presentations at the General Sessions is available on ASLRRA’s YouTube channel, and a selection of conference pictures are posted on the Annual Conference webpage.
On April 14, attendees received an email requesting they complete a survey about their Annual Conference experience. Individuals can say what they liked, what was useful, and what could be improved, which will help the Association shape future events. The survey is a valuable source of information and takes only a few minutes to complete. Please help ASLRRA improve by sharing your thoughts.
Thanks to Rocky Mountaineer, Conference Volunteers and Many Others
ASLRRA is grateful to all those who helped make this year’s conference a success. Many thanks to ASLRRA member Rocky Mountaineer for hosting a first-class train excursion to kick off our annual conference and exhibition in Denver. Special thanks to Carl Atencio, Mike Claiborne and Brittany Richardson at Rocky Mountaineer for all their efforts to make the outing a success.
The Association also relies on volunteers who help with a multitude of conference tasks. ASLRRA thanks Cindy Allande-Tarin, Garrett Anderson, Holly Friedland, Steve Friedland, Beth Garguilo, Susan Gelnar, Bruce Habberfield, Julie Hall, Dan McCabe, Pam Miller, Dave Moran, Dave Smith and Leah Twombly for their assistance.
There are countless others who helped with this year’s conference, including session presenters and committee members. ASLRRA appreciates those who volunteered their time and shared their knowledge with industry peers. Education sessions are a cornerstone of this annual event, and the depth and breadth of information offered would not be possible without ASLRRA’s members and partners.
Top Left: ASLRRA thanks Rocky Mountaineer's (L to R) Brittany Richardson, Carl Atencio and Mike Claiborne for their work making the Sunday train excursion a success.
Top Right: Volunteers are key to making ASLRRA's Annual Conference run smoothly and are a fixture at the registration desk. Pictured here are some of the many event volunteers, (L to R) Holly Friedland, Leah Twombly, Susan Gelnar, Bruce Habberfield and Steve Friedland. ASLRRA thanks them and all those who lent a hand.
Future Track Services LLC, based in Clarksville, Tennessee, provides contracting services ranging from track construction, maintenance, signal & communication systems, grade crossing services to rail yard development, and maintenance-of-way services. Its team is composed of industry experts who bring decades of experience and a passion for excellence to every project. Vice President Jason Luce is our primary contact and can be reached on (402) 591-9339.
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.
Association business conducted during this year’s Annual Conference in Denver included elections for various positions on ASLRRA’s board of directors and within its committees. ASLRRA welcomes Erika Bruhnke, John Angel, Lucas Brewer and Leah Twombly and thanks Kareen Gray, Mitch Harris, Kyle Kellem and Alex Lang.
Bruhnke, chief sales and growth officer for RailPros, was elected to ASLRRA’s board as associate business member (supplier) representative. She will succeed Wabtec’s Kareen Gray, whose term expires later this year. Bruhnke also chairs the Supplier Committee for ASLRRA
Bruhnke has been in the railroad industry for nearly 17 years, working both the railroad operations side and the contractor side. She joined RailPros in 2018 as the vice president of training services. Prior to joining RailPros, she spent a decade with BNSF Railway. She is active in numerous rail organizations including the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC), AREMA and the League of Railway Women.
Several ASLRRA committees elected new chairpersons during their in-person meetings at the conference. The Safety and Training Committee chose Angel of Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc., who will succeed Harris of the Rio Grande Pacific Corporation. For the Engineering Committee, Brewer of Colliers Engineering & Design will take over for Tacoma Rail’s Kellem. And in the Technology Committee, Twombly of OmniTRAX will succeed Transtar’s Lang.
During the board of directors meeting held on April 9, the Association bid farewell to outgoing Eastern Region board member James Kornas. ASLRRA is grateful to Kornas, Gray, Harris, Kellem and Lang for their dedicated service to the Association and its members. ASLRRA also appreciates the newest class of leaders for volunteering their time and talent.
ASLRRA recognized outgoing Eastern Region Board Member James Kornas (center) at the ASLRRA Board of Directors meeting held April 9.
Würth is ASLRRA’s Preferred Provider of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related services and their customer-first approach to service and support has a long history. Since opening their doors, Würth has helped thousands of companies protect their employees and work with optimum efficiency for maximum output. Their team of railroad specialists currently supports nearly 200 short line railroads, rail industry contractors and Class I railroad companies.
ASLRRA members can depend on Würth for quality safety and industrial products and exceptional customer service, plus discounted pricing on a huge assortment of products and equipment needed to implement an effective and efficient safety program. Offerings include foot and leg protection, signs, ergonomic products, hearing and eye protection, clothing protection, lighting and electrical products, storage containment and environmental spill cleanup, traffic control and much more.
Visit the Association’s Member Discount Program page to view Würth’s complete product offering and suite of services and start saving today.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has posted a revised document describing general terms and conditions for grant awards. This document is part of the agreement between the FRA and grant recipients and provides grantees with the kind of language the agency expects them to understand and use during the grant process.
The document features reporting guidelines, instructions for amendments, property and equipment requirements and more. There are also program-specific clauses for different programs including Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants.
In a report published on April 10, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) made recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regarding information related to the Railway-Highway Crossings Program (RHCP).
As ASLRRA described in its Feb. 26 issue of Views & News, FHWA’s Railway-Highway Crossings Program provides funding to states to help eliminate hazards at public crossings. However, GAO’s study found that the technical assistance provided by FHWA does not describe or give examples of the types of trespassing-related pedestrian projects that could be eligible for funding through the RHCP.
GAO’s report states that providing more information about eligible pedestrian projects could help states reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries at grade crossings. GAO recommends the FHWA administrator review RHCP technical assistance materials and update them with additional information, including providing examples of noteworthy projects.
Kentucky has awarded $3.6 million in grants for rail infrastructure projects through the Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvement (KIASI) program and the Kentucky Rail Crossing Improvement (KRCI) program.
ASLRRA member Paducah and Louisville Railway received funding through the KRCI program for rail crossing upgrades and full crossing surface replacements. Norfolk Southern also received a KRCI grant, as well as a KIASI grant. The other company receiving a KIASI grant was Pittsburg Glass Works.
Chuck Baker discussed short lines in Railway Age magazine’s April issue as part of its CEO Perspectives series, focusing on the unique ways short lines drive business growth and how they improve operational safety.
Baker described how short lines look to grow carload by carload and customer by customer, building business by making connections and pursuing all opportunities. Supporting these efforts are programs that help small railroads make infrastructure improvements, like the 45G tax credit and CRISI grants, and organizations that help improve safety, like the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI).
Rounding out Baker’s commentary is a note about ASLRRA’s work in support of its members, including advocacy efforts like Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.
JR Gelnar traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to participate in meetings of the Association of American Railroads’ Hazmat and Tank Car Committees. Representatives from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) briefed meeting attendees about one-time movement approvals (OTMAs), various regulations and shop certifications.
Crystal Gitchell attended the Keystone State Railroad Association’s 2025 Rail Freight Conference in Bedford, Pennsylvania, where she spoke about federal legislation and ASLRRA’s legislative policy priorities.
Jo Strang and Sarah Yurasko participated in a small business transportation sector regulatory roundtable today, held online by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. The meeting discussed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s request for information (RFI) concerning regulatory review and reform. ASLRRA intends to submit comments on the RFI.
Representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration have participated in several ASLRRA webinars discussing important industry topics such as employee and contractor qualification and certification. Recordings of these webinars are available to members at any time online. Look for the titles below in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library, then browse the Association’s other recordings on a wide variety of issues including finance, communications and technology.
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
Two states have started soliciting public feedback on their respective rail plans. Washington is updating its State Rail Plan, and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has issued a call for comment on rail-related issues.
An online engagement site for the WSDOT plan opened yesterday and will remain open through June 24. Site visitors can view a plan timeline and complete a survey describing how they use rail and what they would like to see in the future.
WSDOT will also host webinars in May and June to discuss passenger and freight rail topics. The first webinar, to be held May 8, will discuss the state of rail in Washington, while a May 22 webinar will focus on passenger rail. Register for these webinars at the rail plan engagement site.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released a draft of its Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Six-Year Improvement Plan outlining future investments in public transportation, freight and passenger rail.
The draft plan can be viewed here. The public can submit comments online or in person at meetings being held throughout the state.
The University of Delaware is inviting presentation proposals for its annual Big Data in Railroad Engineering Conference, which will be held Dec. 10 to 11 in Newark, Delaware.
Each presentation is 20 minutes and can discuss various topics relating to railroad engineering, rolling stock and operations. These include big data problems and issues, applications of big data solutions, big data theory and problems and solutions case studies.
Interested presenters must submit a 200-word description of their topic by June 30 to Dr. Allan M. Zarembski at dramz@udel.edu. Selections will be announced by Aug. 30.
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.
