Scouts ride sold-out train on Gettysburg Railway
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum celebrates 65 years
TNW Corp.'s NETX Railway begins operations
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.
Each year, ASLRRA selects railroads achieving the most impressive safety records to receive the President’s Awards, based on safety data reported to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the previous year.
Sixteen President’s Award winners were chosen in three award categories, based on their safety performance. Awards are based on data submitted by railroads on their monthly FRA F6180.55 forms, as well as any required accident/incident reporting forms in 2025. Those with the lowest incident rate in each category are selected for awards.
“Annually, the President’s Awards recognize the best of the best of our member railroads in safety performance. This year we are pleased to announce an updating of the award criteria to accommodate the wide variety in operations across our more than 500 member short line railroads, making these awards more representative and competitive across categories, rather than bound by ASLRRA Region as they have been in past years. And with freight rail safety at all-time high levels, these awards have never been harder to win," said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker.
"The President’s Award winners showcase the results of the ‘safety first’ mentality of railroading, practiced relentlessly 365 days a year. I offer a huge congratulations and a thank you to the award winners and all the competitors, and am thrilled to celebrate short line freight rail safety."
This year’s winners are:
Small and Independent Class III Category
Yard and Switching Operations Category
General Award Category, Employee-on-Duty Hours
General Award Category, Train Miles
For 2026, ASLRRA has developed new criteria for the selection of awards, highlighting performance in categories representing the breadth of operations of short line members. In the General Categories, railroads are grouped in bands for employee-on-duty hours, and train miles across the country, rather than the prior regional divisions.
For more information on ASLRRA’s President’s Awards click here.
ASLRRA has published its newest Short Line Carloads Report, showing increases in overall carload volume and movement types.
The number of carloads handled in July 2026 was slightly up over June, and increased by 7%, or 36,000 carloads, over July 2025. In addition, all movement types increased year-over-year (YOY) between July 2025 and July 2026. Bridged movements increased 2%, terminations increased 6% and originations increased 11%.
For individual commodities, petroleum, coal and mining grew the most YOY. The only commodity group to decrease YOY was agriculture, but that decline was only 1%.
Carload data is based on a custom short line carload report created in cooperation between ASLRRA and Railinc based on waybill data submitted by railroads. This work product may not be disseminated without permission granted by ASLRRA. Contact ASLRRA at foelsner@aslrra.org for all inquiries.
ASLRRA has filed comments before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in support of Denver Transit Operators and its petition for declaratory order, Docket No. FD 36910.
Denver Transit asked the STB to declare that the Denver Transit Dispatching Department is not a common carrier under the Interstate Commerce Act. ASLRRA supports this petition. The Association has an interest in the proceedings as many short lines hire contractors to perform some railroad functions, and classifying contractors as rail carriers exposes small-business railroads to increased liability, federal requirements and compliance costs.
Denver Transit operates Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) commuter rail system in the Denver metropolitan area. The organization also authorizes a very small number of movements by third-party passenger trains, including two Amtrak excursion trains, on a very short segment of track leading into Denver Union Station.
The STB had previously established precedent in a decision now known as the Rail-Term doctrine, stating a contracted dispatching company, Rail-Term Corporation, could be considered a rail carrier under jurisdiction of the STB. ASLRRA disagrees with that decision and asserts that the board has an opportunity to reverse its decision by granting Denver Transit’s petition.
Even if the STB does not revisit its Rail-Term decision, ASLRRA still urges the agency to grant Denver Transit’s petition, as the operation overwhelmingly services commuter rail activities and only incidentally services common carrier passenger services.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group has issued a new SOFA Alert.
The alert brings attention to a recent incident where a conductor with 18 years of experience suffered a severe leg injury during a shove movement. The conductor was riding a tank car at the rear of a train during a shove movement when he lost his footing and fell off the car. The injury resulted in a leg amputation.
While the SOFA Working Group continues to analyze the case, the SOFA Alert reminds employees to maintain a firm grip and secure footing at all times when riding equipment or getting on and off moving railcars.
As a reminder, ASLRRA maintains a Safety Alerts, Reports and Advisories webpage, where visitors can find recently published federal safety notifications.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published several research reports on a variety of topics. Of particular interest to short line freight railroaders is Exploration of Training to Address Human Factor Risks in Railroad Switching and Shoving and Optimizing First Responder Routes Based on Railroad Crossings and Street Traffic Information.
In the switching and shoving report, the FRA sponsored a study by ENSCO and TrueSafety Evaluation to create and test a course that would strengthen training on switching and shoving tasks, particularly for new and early-career employees. The research involved identifying safety risks and training gaps to develop the course, as well as gathering feedback to make further improvements.
Based on the pilot course, which was delivered to nine participants representing the FRA, Class I and short line railroads and labor organizations, researchers identified five key findings. In particular, there is strong demand for supplemental switching-operations training, and the ideal audience is early-career employees. Also, scenario-based materials, case examples and video-assisted instruction help increase engagement, while training at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) offers the ability to demonstrate hazardous scenarios safely.
The report also offered recommended short- and long-term activities to build on these findings. Included as appendices are the pilot course agenda, course outline and course assessment form.
In the report on optimizing first responder routes, a research team from the University of South Carolina worked with the city of Columbia, South Carolina and Class I railroad CSX to help 911 dispatch centers identify optimal routes for emergency responders.
The research team developed an optimization model that minimized overall response times by predicting grade-crossing blockages. The model estimated train arrival and departure times and created time windows to account for expected closure periods. The model also used real-time traffic information to improve accuracy. Overall, case studies showed a reduction in response times by 61.6% for fire station dispatches and 55.3% for law enforcement.
Though the model showed positive results, the research team cautioned that the research contained limitations, including failure to account for weather conditions, traffic congestion and other real-world conditions.
Other recently published reports include:
ASLRRA has joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and other transportation organizations in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees concerning the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The letter opposes inclusion of language that would mandate public disclosure of aircraft, rail and vehicle manifest information under the Tariff Act of 1930.
The language, which would potentially be included in the NDAA, was originally introduced as the Manifest Modernization Act. The letter argues this legislation would make sensitive data public, result in national security concerns and supply chain vulnerabilities and lead to competitive and operational burdens.
The letter goes on to urge Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) as well as House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) to oppose both the Manifest Modernization Act and reject efforts to include any similar language in the final NDAA.
Know a company that would benefit from joining and participating in ASLRRA? Please contact Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik via email or at (202) 585-3443.
Railio is an AI-native management system for railroads that brings maintenance, inspections, inventory, invoicing, and safety compliance into one place. Technicians get instant answers cited from their own manuals and work notes, while management gets a clear view of the entire fleet. Every job captured makes the railroad smarter, predicting failures before they happen and turning asset history and financials into analytics you can act on, all while integrating into the systems you already run. For more information, please email contact@railio.xyz.
Weston Solutions is an employee-owned environmental and infrastructure services firm providing innovative solutions to Class I and short line railroads, government agencies, and other commercial clients. Backed by 65 years of experience, Weston’s nationwide team helps solve complex challenges and deliver lasting value. Primary contact and Client Account Director, Peter Masson, can be reached at peter.masson@westonsolutions.com.
ASLRRA’s inaugural Fall Super Regional Meeting will feature a newly added speaker, U.S. Transportation Command Deputy Commander Army Lt. Gen. Jered Helwig. Helwig will speak during the General Session on the morning of Oct. 6.
As one of the nation's senior military logistics leaders, Lt. Gen. Helwig helps oversee the global movement and sustainment network that enables the U.S. military to operate around the world. His perspective on transportation, logistics, infrastructure, and supply chain resilience will provide a unique and timely viewpoint for Fall Meeting attendees.
In addition to Lt. Gen. Helwig's presentation, this year's general sessions will feature updates from Class I railroad representatives, a panel discussion with short line railroad CEOs, an update from Tom Murta, executive director of the Short Line Safety Institute, and presentation and the recently announced 2026 President's Awards.
With two engaging general sessions, a robust educational program, and more than a dozen committee and working group meetings, the Fall Super Regional Meeting offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with short line railroad leaders from across the country.
Don’t forget, ASLRRA will also host a networking event at Topgolf on Tuesday evening, Oct. 6. The event is free for all registered attendees from Class II and III member railroads. However, a separate registration is required.
Register today for the meeting, which takes place Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri. Registration rates will increase on Sept. 24.
Also be sure to secure hotel lodging before the Sept. 18 cutoff date.
Loram offers discount pricing on its Aurora Track Inspection Technology providing comprehensive tie inspections generating detailed reports allowing railroads to streamline capital maintenance programs and ensure they are in line with industry regulations with compliance reports.
Click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program and view all available products and services, or contact ASLRRA’s Sabrina Waiss for more information about becoming a Preferred Provider.
Check out these classic webinars that cover various aspects of strategic communications, delivered by industry subject matter experts:
ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library offers more than 200 recordings on a variety of topics. Click here to log in and access the library.
For this inaugural presentation, registration is FREE for ASLRRA members! Only a few spots still available!
ASLRRA Leadership Program: Crisis Communications Training Seminar
October 27-29, Charlotte, North Carolina
This new training seminar will help railroads prepare for their worst day by developing a communications strategy and working with key partners in advance of an incident. During the seminar, individuals or teams from a railroad will a Crisis Communications Plan and become proficient in using a Communicators Response Guide to determine the appropriate level of response based on the incident. Training will also address the role of the railroad communicator when Incident Command is in place. Attendees will return to their railroad with a communications plan that they may further refine, implement and incorporate into their railroad’s Emergency Response Plan.
Developed as a new module of ASLRRA’s Leadership Program, the crisis communications training seminar is geared to company leaders who are responsible for driving the external response to an incident on their railroad, as well as company spokespersons and communications professionals.
ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library offers more than 200 recordings on a variety of topics. Click here to log in and access the library.
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved $1.1 million in funding for grade crossing improvements at two locations.
ASLRRA member Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) will install new automatic warning devices and concrete surfaces at its East Solon Road and Blivin Street crossings. Funding from the state’s Grade Crossing Protection Fund will cover 95% of costs for signal design and construction and crossing surface materials. WSOR will be responsible for the balance plus any future maintenance costs.
ASLRRA associate business member North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) will award funding through two of its programs to advance rail-related projects in North Carolina.
Atlantic Packaging will receive up to $250,000 through the NCRR Invests grant program. That funding will support construction of a new rail spur connecting Atlantic Packaging’s recently acquired warehouse to the freight rail network. It is estimated the project will support movement of at least 480 rail cars annually and create 16 new full-time jobs.
NCRR also awarded $500,000 each to Harnett County and Greensboro through its Build Ready Sites program. Funding will go toward preparing rail-served industrial sites for economic development opportunities.
Harnett County will use its award to make an 83-acre site accessible for rail-served manufacturers. The property is part of the 224-acre Byrd Industrial Sites. Meanwhile Greensboro will clear and grade a portion of the Reedy Fork Industrial Site in preparation for future industrial development.
NCRR has also opened the application period for a new round of Build Ready Sites funding. Applications are due Oct. 2. See program guidelines here and submit a preliminary interest form here.
Fred Oelsner, Danialle Lovik and Amy Westerman traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to attend the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Annual Conference & Expo. Oelsner attended various conference events and committee meetings, while Lovik and Westerman staffed an ASLRRA booth in the expo hall.
Jo Strang (pictured, far right) attended the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) Symposium hosted by Metro-North Railroad. She was joined by SLSI Executive Director Tom Murta. A number of railroads provided updates on their participation in the program, and Strang and Murta gave a presentation on SLSI’s C3RS peer review pilot project.
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.
A research results report published by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) presents the results of a study on the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) conducted by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe).
In its study, the Volpe team examined opportunities for improvement presented to SLSI and the extent to which SLSI acted upon these opportunities. Overall, the report states that SLSI takes action in response to opportunities for improvement, noting that 84% of the opportunities offered to SLSI by Volpe are either complete or in process.
According to the report, Volpe provided and tracked opportunities provided to SLSI in 2024. The opportunities came from a variety of data sources including meetings with the SLSI team, process observations and document reviews. Seventeen of the 18 opportunities related to the safety culture assessment (SCA) process and one related to the SLSI website.
Volpe has been studying SLSI since the organization was first set up as a pilot program. Volpe’s evaluations of SLSI have evolved from a focus on examining the development of the SCA process to looking at SLSI through a process evaluation lens.
The League of Railway Women (LRW) is accepting nominations for its Railway Woman of the Year Award. Nominations are due Oct. 9.
According to the LRW website, the award “recognizes an outstanding leader in the rail industry who consistently demonstrates excellence, drives innovation, and paves the way for future generations.”
The winner will be honored at the NRC 2027 Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition. Click here to submit a nomination.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
