3i/Regional Rail Acquires MNNR
St. Louis region's pipeline of rail-served sites expands by 300 acres
Wells Fargo signs deal to sell $4.4 billion rail assets portfolio
Railroad Development Corp. announces new roles for Posner, Asplund
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.
The window of opportunity is closing to have the update of the 45G tax credit embodied in the much-discussed “One Big Beautiful Bill," also known as the budget reconciliation package. ASLRRA and its members, especially those on the Legislative Policy Committee (LPC), are working diligently to garner support for including the 45G update in the bill, but help is needed from others to generate more support of this legislation on Capitol Hill.
The budget reconciliation process is currently underway, and the House has already passed its version of the reconciliation bill, which did not include the short line tax credit modernization. This was not unexpected, but nonetheless provides an additional challenge. The goal now is for the Senate to include its 45G modernization bill, S. 1532, in its version of the reconciliation bill, but this inclusion requires more proactive support from a larger number of senators.
If included in the Senate’s version of the reconciliation bill, the modifications to 45G called for in H.R. 516 and S. 1532 would then need to survive the final negotiation process and be signed into law as part of the overall budget package.
ASLRRA is working on in-person and online efforts to build support for 45G modernization. In addition to discussing the 45G tax credit during Railroad Day on Capitol Hill meetings, ASLRRA has held several smaller legislative fly-ins in 2025, with another scheduled for July. These events are focused solely on building cosponsor support for 45G.
The Association strongly urges its members to contact their elected officials by phone or email to encourage their support for 45G. Those whose delegates are already listed as cosponsors can still contact them to thank them for their support. A list of Senate cosponsors is here, while a list of House cosponsors is here. Individuals can find their members of Congress at this congress.gov website.
A 45G information sheet and other resources are available on ASLRRA’s 45G advocacy page. Meanwhile, ASLRRA’s government affairs team can provide email templates and other communication tools to members. Contact Crystal Gitchell for more information.
Since its inception, the tax credit has driven over $8 billion in infrastructure investment, helping short lines complete track rehabilitation projects critical to improving operational safety and efficiency. Often, the track acquired by short lines has suffered years of deferred maintenance and requires significant upgrades. The 45G modernization bill would increase the credit cap to $6,100 per mile, index the credit to inflation and allow all short-line-owned track to be eligible for the credit.
ASLRRA has made a new Hearing Revocation Summary template available to members. Members can log in to the Compliance Templates section of the Association’s website to find the template under Part 240 (Locomotive Engineer Qualification/Certification) or Part 242 (Conductor Qualification/Certification).
This template should be used when a Part 240 or Part 242 revocation hearing has been conducted. If the revocation is appealed, this completed form can be submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) along with listed documentation to support the railroad’s decision for revocation.
The FRA explained that many revocation appeals made by employees are granted because of a lack of information provided by the railroad to the FRA review board. ASLRRA’s template is based on an example provided by the FRA. Contact ASLRRA’s Vice President, Safety and Compliance JR Gelnar with any questions.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has sent a letter to ASLRRA concerning enforcement of the Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus (EEBA) Standards rule. The letter informs ASLRRA that the FRA will continue to exercise enforcement discretion regarding EEBA final rule requirements for an additional 60 days, through July 26, for Class I and Class II railroads.
On May 29, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued a decision overturning a lower court decision that had blocked construction of a new short line railroad, the Uinta Basin Railway in Utah.
In 2020, the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition (Seven Counties) applied to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for approval of an 88-mile railroad line to transport waxy crude oil from Uinta Basin via connection with Union Pacific’s former Rio Grande main line to gulf coast refineries in Texas and Louisiana. Construction of a new rail line requires approval by the STB, which includes preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS must address significant environmental effects of the proposed project and identify feasible alternatives that could mitigate those effects.
The STB prepared a 3,600-page EIS that analyzed the effects of the construction of the rail line and its operation but not effects of upstream drilling and downstream refining of crude oil. In a December 2021 decision, the board approved the construction of the line, determining that the project’s transportation and economic benefits outweighed any environmental impacts.
A number of environmental entities and Eagle County, Colorado, petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the STB decision. The court found that the STB had failed to consider a broader environmental impact, including the increased drilling in the Uinta Basin and refining of the oil that the rail line would carry. As a result, the Circuit Court vacated both the EIS and the STB’s final decision. The Seven Counties appealed the Circuit Court’s decision and, in an 8-0 decision, SCOTUS reversed the Circuit Court and remanded the case to the STB.
After an extensive review, SCOTUS found that the Circuit Court failed to afford the STB the required deference in NEPA cases and incorrectly interpreted NEPA to require the board to consider upstream and downstream projects separate from the Uinta Basin Railway. In so finding, the Court said that the correct approach for a court to review an agency’s EIS is to check that the agency addressed the environmental effects of the project at hand, not the effects of separate projects. In doing so, the reviewing court should afford substantial deference to the agency as to the scope and contents of the EIS.
“Over the years, some have sought to abuse NEPA by unlawfully turning a procedural tool into an ideological weapon,” said STB Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs. The decision is “a victory for common sense, economic growth, and meaningful environmental review. I strongly support the Board’s approval decision and subsequent legal defense, and I am pleased the Supreme Court has upheld the diligent work of the agency for the benefit of the public.”
View the full Supreme Court decision here. Those who attend ASLRRA’s General Counsel Symposium will have the opportunity to discuss the potential broader impacts of this decision in an educational session being planned for the event, which will be held Sept. 9 to 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For several years, ASLRRA has welcomed interns through The Fund for American Studies, which provides opportunities for students in the U.S. and from around the world to learn about American democracy through internships and other programs. The Association welcomes this year’s interns, Péter Balogh and Julija Kondratjeva. They will be at the Association for eight weeks, working primarily with ASLRRA’s government affairs team.
Balogh is from Budapest, Hungary. He is a third-year student studying business administration and management and law. He is interested in policy and development economics, and his goal is “to find a career that contributes to Hungary’s long-term prosperity.”
Balogh is not new to railroads, as his grandfather worked for the Hungarian State Railways and often took Balogh with him on train trips. Through this internship, Balogh said he would like to “gain insight into the railway industry and explore how government relations and public policy shape its development.”
“I’m eager to understand how democracy functions here in Washington, D.C.,” continued Balogh. “I hope to take home valuable lessons to apply in my own country.”
Outside of his studies, Balogh is involved in a number of student organizations. He is a scout leader and founder of a startup to help Hungarian students discover international opportunities. He is also an avid runner who recently completed his first ultramarathon.
This is Balogh’s first time visiting the U.S., though in his short time here he has already traveled outside of Washington, D.C. to Minnesota and New York.
Kondratjeva, who is from Latvia, has a bachelor's degree in business and economics and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in finance. Her goal is to work in an international, government-related investment field supporting economic development and market transitions, especially in emerging economies.
Kondratjeva is intrigued by U.S. railroads that are mostly private businesses, as opposed to Europe where railroads are largely state owned. Through her internship, Kondratjeva is looking forward to learning more about government advocacy.
“I’m keen to understand how small businesses engage with government to shape regulation in their favor to support their growth,” she said. “I’m especially looking forward to the hearings and other meetings, just to observe how decisions are made and how negotiations unfold in real time.”
In her spare time, Kondratjeva enjoys a variety of athletic activities, especially yoga, swimming and going to the gym. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. Like Balogh, this is Kondratjeva’s first time in the U.S. She is looking forward to traveling along the East Coast, immersing herself in American culture and trying new things.
ASLRRA welcomes two summer interns through The Fund for American Studies. Julija Kondratjeva (far left) is from Latvia, and Peter Balogh is from Hungary. They will be working primarily with the Association's government affairs team for the next eight weeks.
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ASLRRA’s two region meetings are scheduled for the fall, with registration opening June 9 for the three meetings held in September.
The Eastern and Southern Region Meeting will take place Sept. 9 to 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Co-located with the region meeting are the Finance and Administration Seminar and the General Counsel Symposium.
The Central and Pacific Region Meeting will take place Nov. 3 to 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Registration is scheduled to open Aug. 4.
ASLRRA is also selling sponsorships for both events. Click here to view the sponsorship prospectus or contact the Association’s meetings team at meetings@aslrra.org with questions.
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 congratulates its Senior Vice President, Education and Business Services Sabrina Waiss on her tenth work anniversary at the Association.
In her role, Waiss oversees education, training and business development services. Her responsibilities include developing and delivering a robust program of virtual and in-person educational content, focused on providing training and support to front line personnel, emerging leaders and professionals throughout the railroad industry.
“Sabrina has a unique and wide-ranging set of responsibilities,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “She is the lead on our long running webinar series which now has hundreds of webinars in the on-demand bank, she coordinates nearly 50 different educational breakout sessions at each annual conference, she organizes the safety training programs with JR, she is leading the effort to get dozens of railroads signed up on our LMS system and so much more. I’m grateful to have Sabrina at the helm of these many efforts!”
Outside the Association, Waiss enjoys a variety of activities, including hiking and attending live performances. Read our interview to learn more about this dynamic industry leader.
ASLRRA: How did you get your start in the railroad industry?
SW: I came to the railroad industry via trucking – from the American Moving & Storage Association to be specific - where I led the communications, business development, education and events teams. I know that trains and trucks don’t often see eye to eye, but they do share some significant commonalities. Many are small, family-owned businesses operating on thin margins in demanding industries, who require critical education, tools and resources to help them operate safely and efficiently. And they deliver essential goods and services that keep our daily lives and the nation’s economy moving!
ASLRRA: What has been the work or initiative that you’ve been most proud of over the past ten years? What do you enjoy most about your work at ASLRRA and your work with short lines?
SW: Expanding education. In partnership with association colleagues and key industry professionals, who are some of the most talented and dedicated subject matter experts in the railroad industry like JR Gelnar, Mitch Harris, Mark Vaughn, and countless others, much of my work at ASLRRA has focused on identifying and meeting the critical education and training needs of our railroad members.
From building ASLRRA’s webinar program and cultivating educational content and speakers for the annual and regional meetings, to growing our annual in-person training seminar lineup and launching cutting-edge tools, resources and content under the IANR CRISI grant, I’ve experienced first-hand the impact our work has on members. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come, and great to know that we have so much more under development.
ASLRRA: As you look to the rest of the year and beyond, what are you excited about for railroading and member engagement?
SW: I am very excited about the CRISI-funded work we are doing in partnership with the Iowa Northern Railway, developing new educational tools, resources, and content that will serve short line railroads far into the future.
Five years ago, it was really just an idea – a dream, really – to have an online Learning Management System (LMS) that would deliver railroad-specific training to members at their location at the click of a mouse. Today, we have more than 1,000 users engaged in online learning via the LMS platform, and that number is rapidly increasing as we roll out new content. We’ve also launched the mobile technical training center, which is equipped with two Type II locomotive simulators and classroom space for 6 students, and travels around the country providing hands-on training to railroaders at their location.
Our focus for the next two years is to launch at least 30 technical training courses that will be delivered in person and via the LMS, and to equip short line railroads and their employees with the training and resources they need to ensure safe, compliant, and successful operations. It’s very exciting to be engaged in this work and know that our efforts will have such a lasting impact on the industry.
ASLRRA: What would our members be surprised to know about you?
SW: I spent the first half of my career working in fundraising, development, and coalition building for local and national nonprofits, including seven years spent securing resources to renovate and launch a transitional housing facility for homeless families in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. I also worked on national cause partnerships for Goodwill Industries International, where one highlight of my work was coordinating a national donation campaign tied to the opening of the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, though sadly I did not get to meet America Ferrera.
When you work for a nonprofit, you have to be scrappy and resourceful, and you definitely learn the importance of building relationships and collaboration, and I think this has served me well throughout my career.
When not working, I enjoy biking, hiking, and traveling with my family, and attending live music and theater events. I have three amazing children – Jonah, Sam and Ava – and two furry rescues, Nola and Iggy.
ASLRRA SVP, Business and Education Services Sabrina Waiss is celebrating her ten-year anniversary with the Association. When not working, Waiss likes to travel with her family. This picture with Waiss (in green), her husband and three children is from a trip to the Grand Canyon.
Registration is now open for the newest module of ASLRRA’s Leadership Program, Professional Trainer Development, which will be held Oct. 7 to 9 in Freeport, Maine.
This course is designed for trainers of all levels and subject matter experts who want to expand and enhance their training skills. Attendees will learn how to design training using adult learning principles, manage participant engagement and the learning environment, enhance personal presentation skills, and develop course materials using Bloom’s Taxonomy for Instructional Design and ADDIE methods.
Throughout the workshop, participants will delve into understanding and applying proven development and facilitation techniques through engaging activities and peer-reviewed small group presentations intended to simulate authentic training experiences.
Registration is limited to 25 attendees, so those interested in participating should sign up soon.
Other 2025 Training Seminars
Unfortunately, because ASLRRA has not been able to confirm a publication date for the updated edition of the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) rulebook, the Association has decided to cancel the 2025 GCOR training seminar which had been scheduled for October. If the new edition is published later this year, ASLRRA plans to reschedule the GCOR training for early 2026.
Several training seminars remain in 2025, offering rail industry professionals the opportunity to bolster leadership skills and improve understanding of various federal regulations. Click here to view them all.
In order to help employees of small railroads attend these training 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.
Industry experts in ASLRRA's Member Discount Program can assist member railroads in the preparation and submission of a number of different grant applications at the federal, state and local levels.
As a preferred provider of grant writing services, Colliers Engineering and Design offers discounted rates, industry expertise, and exceptional service to ASLRRA members. Visit ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program page and select Grant Writing Services to learn more about Colliers and other exceptional preferred providers.
ASLRRA member Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road Company (CUOH) will upgrade flashing lights and gates at a grade crossing in Coshocton, Ohio after receiving funding approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).
PUCO will cover 75 percent of project costs, up to $200,000. The total estimated cost of the project is $261,713. CUOH will cover maintenance expenses and the balance of project costs, including anything above PUCO’s maximum.
Jo Strang and Sarah Yurasko traveled to Miami, Florida to attend an oral argument session in a suit against the Federal Railroad Administration opposing the proposed two-person crew size rule. Attorney David Rifkind presented arguments on behalf of ASLRRA. An audio recording of the hearing is available here.
JR Gelnar and Sabrina Waiss were in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help present the FRA Locomotive and Car Compliance (Part 215) Training Seminar with representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration and Iowa Northern Railway Company.
Last week, Sarah Yurasko attended a Surface Transportation Board (STB) Attorney Listening Session, hosted by STB Vice Chairman Michelle Schultz, focused on hearing individual practitioners’ ideas on ways to streamline the Board’s processes and procedures that affect litigants and parties appearing before the agency.
ASLRRA has offered important webinars addressing the Federal Railroad Administration’s Part 219 control of alcohol and drug use, and covering regulatory requirements, testing programs and issues, and educational materials for railroads. The Association’s On-Demand Webinar Library offers recordings 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.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) will work to raise awareness of the blue and white Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs posted at railroad crossings during the first ENS Sign Awareness Day, which will be held June 24.
The day’s efforts will focus on helping the public and first responders recognize ENS signs and understand their purpose and how to utilize the information on them. ENS signs are posted at railroad crossings and display a phone number and crossing location information people can use to quickly report emergencies or safety concerns directly to the railroad.
OLI’s ENS Sign Awareness Day website features resources for those interested in participating in the day’s efforts. These resources include graphics to post on social media, short videos in both English and Spanish and ENS sign t-shirts available for purchase.
Railway Age magazine will hold its eleventh annual Rail Insights virtual conference on June 17. Registration for the event is free.
The focus of this year’s conference are the challenges, issues and trends facing the North American Rail Market. Featured speakers will include Surface Transportation Board Chair Patrick Fuchs, BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer, Union Pacific Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker, Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Claude Elkins, Railroad Financial Corporation President David Nahass and Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William Vantuono.
Class I railroad BNSF Railway announced the creation of the First Mile/Last Mile team focused on single-carload growth.
The new 13-person team, which will be based primarily out of BNSF’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, combines the railroad’s Shortline Development and Industrial Products Business Development groups. The goal is to grow carload volume across BNSF’s national network.
This effort is part of BNSF’s work to expand partnerships with short line railroads. In the past year, BNSF has established a Shortline Select program to collaborate with small railroads to bolster economic development and growth. All of BNSF’s current Shortline Select partners are ASLRRA member railroads.
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.
