Port Muskogee signs railroad operating agreement
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ASLRRA announces 394 member railroads are winners of this year’s Jake Safety Award. Of those Jake Award winners a record 357 are winners of Jake Awards with Distinction, meaning they had zero reportable injuries in 2024.
The Association also announces the winners of the President’s Safety Award, which is awarded to railroads having the lowest injury frequency rate in various person-hours worked categories in each of the four ASLRRA member regions. ASLRRA congratulates all this year’s distinguished Safety Award winners.
To achieve a Jake Award, an ASLRRA member railroad must perform better than the average reportable injury frequency rate per 200,000 person-hours worked for ‘railroads other than Class Is, transit, commuter railroads and Amtrak’ as evidenced by Railroad Injury and Illness Summary Forms submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for each of the twelve months of 2024. In 2024, a Jake Award winner must have an injury frequency rate lower than the industry average of 2.31, a reduction from the prior year’s rate of 2.38.
“For short line railroads, there is nothing more important than operating safely. The Jake Award program is an industry bellwether of performance against that goal each year,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “It is particularly notable that the average industry injury frequency rate, based on FRA-reported performance in 2024, has dropped, making it more difficult to achieve a Jake Award. Yet, 394 of our member railroads have notched a frequency lower than industry average, and of these a record breaking 357 railroads reported zero injuries. Zero is remarkable!
These results are a testament to the short line industry’s dedication to ‘Safety First, Every Day,’ and our commitment to investing in technology, infrastructure, and continuous training for employees to be ever-safer.”
This year’s President’s Award Winners are listed below. They will be recognized at ASLRRA’s 2025 Region Meetings. The Eastern and Southern Region Meeting will take place Sept. 9 to 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, while the Central and Pacific Region Meeting will take place Nov. 3 to 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Central Region Winners
Eastern Region Winners
Pacific Region Winners
Southern Region Winners
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued an updated hours-of-service waiver decision letter which adds three ASLRRA member railroads.
The document also lists all participating railroads. Railroads utilizing the waiver should maintain a copy of this most recent decision letter. If a railroad is on the list and is no longer utilizing the waiver, or if there are any questions, please contact ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar.
ASLRRA has submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of member Grafton & Upton Railroad Company, the petitioner in a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit against the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
On Dec. 18, 2024, the STB issued a decision that the Town of Hopedale, Massachusetts could enforce rights under Massachusetts state law to compel the sale of real property previously acquired by Grafton & Upton Railroad that the railroad was developing for rail transportation purposes, holding that Hopedale’s invocation of state law was not preempted under 49 U.S.C. § 10501(b).
In the brief, ASLRRA states that the STB’s erroneous decision creates a loophole, perhaps not intended by the agency, that other states and local jurisdictions could exploit to frustrate Congress’s objective of promoting and maintaining a national rail system. Specifically, the STB’s decision signals that states and local jurisdictions can enact or enforce laws that would give primacy to local and state land use preferences at the expense of a robust interstate rail system, enabling state and local authorities to effectively regulate railroad operations and facilities under application of what may otherwise appear facially-neutral state laws use provisions that exist or may be inspired by the Board’s challenged action.
The Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would affect the issuance of rulemakings and guidance documents and the initiation and conduct of enforcement actions.
The proposed rule intends to codify and consolidate a number of regulatory procedures that are scattered throughout various internal documents. Procedures in the NPRM would apply to all phases of the USDOT rulemaking process. Among other proposals, the NPRM reestablishes the USDOT Regulatory Reform Task Force.
Comments on the NPRM are due June 16. ASLRRA staff is reviewing the document and intends to submit comments.
Members of the House and Senate have sent letters to the leaders of their respective Appropriations Committee transportation subcommittees requesting robust funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program
The House letter addressed to Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is signed by 62 representatives. The group asks Womack and Clyburn to fund the CRISI program at the fully authorized level in the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) THUD spending bill.
The Senate letter, signed by 30 senators, calls on THUD Subcommittee Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to recommend FY26 funding at or above the fiscal year 2025 level, which was $375.8 million. Currently, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides $1 billion in advance appropriations for CRISI with up to an additional $1 billion per year in authorizations.
Both letters describe the benefits of the CRISI program for the U.S. rail network and therefore for the national supply chain. This is particularly true for short line and regional railroads, as CRISI is the only federal grant program for which they are directly eligible. Since CRISI was established, there has been $5.2 billion invested in projects across 48 states and the District of Columbia.
National Park Service Steamtown NHS, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, was established by Congress in 1986. The 62-acre Steamtown National Historic Site was created to promote public understanding and appreciation of steam locomotives in the region. The park, located on the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad yard in downtown Scranton, interprets how railroads accelerated the growth of industry, innovation and communities across the U.S. Its Scranton Limited yard shuttles offer short train rides for visitors to experience the sights, sounds and motion of a working rail yard, all set within the park’s grounds. Our primary contact is Steamtown’s new Superintendent Jeremy Komasz.
North Shore Scenic Railroad, based in Duluth, Minnesota, operates on a 28-mile stretch of track between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota. Public rail excursions start in early summer and run through the holiday season. It carries more than 100,000 passengers annually. The railroad, under the care of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, carries unique historic railroad equipment, while the track is managed by the St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Rail Authority. Rail Operations Manager Michael Edwards is our primary contact and can be reached on (218) 733-7524.
Superior Locomotive Repair LLC, based in Newcomerstown, Ohio, offers a variety of mechanical services including All types of mobile locomotive repair and troubleshooting. Services include FRA inspections, mobile wheel re-profiling, parts, cleaning, EOL inspections, and locomotive leasing. It has shop locations in Ohio and Texas. VP & General Manager Mark Cox is our primary contact and can be reached on (740) 294-1115. Many thanks to Connie Vail of Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (BIP) for suggesting they join ASLRRA.
Ventura Transfer Company, based in Long Beach, California, provides a variety of transportation and transloading services in the Western United States. Offerings include transloading, bulk chemical transportation, intermodal transportation, iso tank washing, product temperature control, and limited warehouse services. Its team is trained to handle everything from Kosher Certified food-grade goods to hazardous chemicals. Director of Operations David Clifford is our primary contact and can be reached on (714) 317-9038. Many thanks to ASLRRA’s Richard Sherman for the assist with this new member.
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.
To help members plan for and cope with these events ASLRRA has assembled disaster preparedness resources available on the Association’s website. Railroad and supplier members helped ASLRRA develop essential templates and checklists to assist in the development of response plans that can be put in place and used as training tools before disaster strikes, as well as emergency response tools and resources to aid in the recovery process in the aftermath of a catastrophic event.
Resources on the Association’s Disaster Preparedness page include disaster planning, hazmat response and instructions on accessing an emergency docket, in addition to links to other government websites. ASLRRA members may download materials directly from the website. Find the Disaster Preparedness page under the Safety & Compliance tab.
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.
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.
Several training seminars remain in 2025, offering rail industry professionals the opportunity to bolster leadership skills and improve understanding of various federal regulations.
Follow the links above to learn more about each event and register.
In order to help employees of small railroads attend these seminars, ASLRRA offers two scholarships, the Doug Golden Scholarship and the Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarship.
Doug Golden Scholarships award up to $1,200 to help cover registration, travel and lodging fees for industry-specific training, while the Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarship awards $500 to cover registration for an ASLRRA training seminar. Use the links above to apply for a scholarship online.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) has approved a grant to ASLRRA member Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway (NDW) to replace 7,000 rail ties between Defiance and Napoleon, Ohio.
The grant will cover up to 50 percent of the estimated project cost of $983,400. This grant supplements a recently awarded federal grant that will enable NDW to replace the rail where ties are also being replaced. NDW’s new owner Patriot Rail is working to restore the rail line after years of deferred maintenance, and NDW has received several grants in partnership with ORDC.
ASLRRA has offered several disaster-related webinars. The Association’s On-Demand Webinar Library offers recordings of these webinars available any time to members. 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.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has released the annual Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) research results paper analyzing 20 Safety Culture Assessments (SCAs) conducted on short line, regional, historic, tourist, commuter, and passenger railroads in 2024. The analysis notes five areas of safety culture strength across the industry and identifies five areas of opportunity.
The annual systematic review informs SLSI of the industry’s needs as it continues to develop programs, resources, and services.
“Just as railroads seek to continuously improve their Safety Culture, SLSI seeks to continuously improve our service to the industry,” said SLSI Executive Director Tom Murta. “From this year’s analysis, we are pleased to see 2024 industry strengths and improvements include areas that are addressed in successful programs such as our Leading Forward class. This year’s review will lead to several initiatives, including addressing Safety Action Plans and housekeeping specifically during close out meetings with management; printed leave behinds that can serve as templates for creation of a Safety Action Plan; reporting and tracking of safety concerns and other resources; and the commitment to continued support provided via follow up meetings throughout the next year or two.”
An SCA is conducted onsite by a team of SLSI professionals and combines an online employee survey, onsite employee interviews, safety documents reviews, and field observations. At the conclusion of the SCA, railroad management will receive an in-depth evaluation of performance on their railroad. In addition, the SLSI team will provide resources and tools to address areas of opportunity on the railroad.
An SCA is voluntary, non-punitive, confidential, and free of charge to short line, regional, passenger, historic, tourist and commuter railroads. To schedule, contact slsi@shortlinesafety.org.
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Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
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