Kankakee’s KB&S rail line sold after 50 years of local ownership
All aboard! The Aurora Winter Train is back on track for weekend adventures
Adirondack Railroad Acquires Metro-North P32 ‘Genesis’ 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.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) advance appropriations for transportation programs—commonly referred to on Capitol Hill as Division J funding—expire Sept. 30, creating a significant funding cliff for federal transportation programs, including rail.
While Congress has approved a continuing resolution (CR) extending federal government funding through Dec. 11, the CR does not extend the IIJA’s Division J advance appropriations. As a result, transportation programs that have benefited from dependable, multi-year funding could increasingly become reliant on the annual appropriations process.
For short line railroads and other transportation stakeholders, that shift could increase uncertainty around future infrastructure investments and make it more difficult to plan and execute multi-year projects. Division J funding has provided more security for programs supporting safety, rail, transit, bridges and other critical infrastructure.
In July, ASLRRA pulled together a broad coalition of transportation organizations to urge congressional leaders to maintain funding for the full range of IIJA Division J programs. The coalition is asking Congress to preserve Division J funding in any future extension of surface transportation programs and, ultimately, in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
The coalition’s broader message is straightforward: just as Congress continues to use General Fund transfers to support the Highway Trust Fund, transportation programs should continue to have access to that funding. While there are differing views in Congress about the use of advance appropriations and how surface transportation programs should ultimately be funded, there is broad recognition of the need to address the looming funding cliff.
ASLRRA and coalition partners will continue raising awareness with members of Congress and congressional leadership about the importance of maintaining reliable, multi-year funding for transportation infrastructure. The coalition is also planning a media roundtable on Capitol Hill to highlight the potential impact of the September 30 expiration and the importance of providing continued funding certainty.
Without congressional action, the expiration of Division J will leave critical transportation programs facing greater funding uncertainty just as Congress considers the future of surface transportation policy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that ASLRRA advise its members of report RIR-26-15 and the hazards associated with riding equipment during shoving movements. (R-26-18, section Railroad Operating Rules for Shoving Movements). Below are details and recommendations from the NTSB. The full report can be found here.
Alert Industry to the Dangers of Riding Shoving Movements
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urges railroads to recognize the dangers of riding shoving movements as a method of point protection. Point protection is the use of visual confirmation to avoid obstructions or collisions, facilitating the safe movement of rail equipment. Federal regulations and railroad operating rules currently allow railroad employees to ride equipment, such as on the side of trains, to provide point protection during shoving movements.
The riding equipment method of point protection exposes employees to unacceptable risk. Since October 2020, 16 NTSB accident investigations have involved an employee riding equipment while protecting a shoving movement. In 14 of the accidents, the employee was fatally injured, and in two, the employee was seriously injured.
What Can Railroads and Industry Do?
Based on our [the NTSB’s] accident investigations since 2020 related to shoving movements, we [the NTSB] concluded that federal regulations prohibiting employees from completing unrelated tasks during shoving movements do not offer sufficient protection against injuries when the regulations conflict with regular railroad duties. We [the NTSB] also concluded that railroad industry rules depend on individual employees’ ability to judge whether it is safe, necessary, or even permissible to ride on the outside of rail equipment. As a result, employees are vulnerable to undocumented hazards like temporary close clearances, novel situations like unfamiliar yards and railcars with unusual safety appliances, hard-to-see dangers like traffic approaching skewed highway–railroad grade crossings, and unintended diversions into equipment from derails, misaligned switches, or crossovers.
We [the NTSB] therefore recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration, and all Class I railroads, prohibit railroad employees from providing point protection while riding equipment during shoving movements. We [the NTSB] also recommended that all Class I railroads conduct, document, and reevaluate as necessary a site-specific hazard analysis for planned work locations that includes employee safety; track, walkway, and roadway conditions; visibility limitations; location of switches and derails; close clearances; and availability of applicable technology to determine the safest methods of shove protection and communicate the results of the analysis to employees.
We [the NTSB] then recommended that the railroads require job briefings conducted before shoving movements to address hazards associated with specific job tasks and information from this analysis.
Additional Information
More information about these accidents, including the report NTSB/RIR-26-15, Prohibit Riding Railroad Equipment During Shoving Movements, can be found on the NTSB website at www.ntsb.gov.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published two safety advisories, Safety Bulletin 2026-05 and a second notice for Safety Advisory 2025-02.
Safety Bulletin 2026-05 is a response to a serious injury that occurred when a conductor with three years of service was executing a shoving move into a yard track during dark, overcast weather. The conductor was riding the side of an open gondola car through a close-clearance zone where side-riding is prohibited.
Though the exact cause of the conductor’s injuries has not yet been determined and the FRA is currently investigating the incident, Safety Bulletin 2026-05 urges railroads to reinforce critical safety practices. Managers and employees should review operating rules restricting equipment riding in close clearances and ensure employees are appropriately tested on those rules. There should also be job briefings before any rolling equipment is shoved or pushed.
The second notice for Safety Advisory 2025-02 reinforces previous recommendations and adds two more to the original Safety Advisory 2025-02 that was published last December.
Safety Advisory 2025-02 was a response to accidents involving crew making “track is clear” determinations before shoving or pushing movements across highway-rail grade crossings equipped with only flashing lights or passive warning devices. Since publication, there have been two incidents – one fatality and one serious injury – occurring under circumstances similar to those described in the advisory.
The two additional recommended railroad actions include direct employee briefings and immediate efforts to correct training and qualification program deficiencies. According to the FRA, railroads should immediately distribute the original Safety Advisory 2025-02 and the second notice and conduct direct face-to-face briefings with employees who perform or oversee shoving or pushing movements. Railroads should also review written programs required by 49 CFR 218.95 for employees performing duties subject to subpart F. Any program deficiencies should immediately be corrected and supplemental instruction, training and examination be provided as necessary.
The original safety recommendations concerned ensuring rule compliance with job briefing requirements, review and updating of operating rules, review and evaluation of operational testing data and implementation of a program to evaluate crossing conditions.
ASLRRA urges its members to remain diligent and review these safety briefings. The Association maintains a Safety Alerts, Reports and Advisories webpage, where visitors can find these recently published federal safety notifications.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) published two press releases announcing recent decisions.
On Sept. 16, the STB said it had granted a joint motion from Amtrak and Canadian National Railway (CN) to dismiss Amtrak’s longstanding complaint concerning terms and compensation for Amtrak’s use of CN’s facilities and services.
The decision was years in the making, as Amtrak filed its original complaint in 2013. In 2019, after years of pleadings and discovery, the STB issued interim findings and ordered board-sponsored mediation. There was a technical conference with board staff in 2025, and through intensive negotiations Amtrak and CN came to a mutually beneficial agreement resolving all issues and allowing the STB to dismiss the proceeding.
The STB points out it encourages voluntary, private settlements and offers alternative dispute resolution services in lieu of litigation. The STB’s Litigation Alternatives webpage can be found here.
On Sept. 18, the STB announced it had denied three motions for summary denial of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s merger application. The motions were filed by BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation and a coalition of shipper associations. The STB notes this decision does not prevent parties from renewing their arguments in opening comments that are due to the board by Nov. 18.
In its press release, the STB also said the motions and comments raise important questions and issues, and the board’s decision to continue developing the record does not reflect any conclusion on the merits of the proposed transaction, nor is it an endorsements of any arguments presented by the applicants.
The text of the STB’s decision is available for download here, while the UP-NS Merger Resources page is here.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is urging customers to be wary of scams, pointing out that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is making it more difficult to identify bad actors.
Using AI, scammers can more easily impersonate a family member or government entity. AI can also imitate dialogue and bypass spam filters, making it more difficult to tell genuine and fraudulent communications apart. Two common scam efforts include phishing attempts by email and malicious phone calls, both of which attempt to extract personal information from victims. Scammers can also create fake social media accounts and web pages that look similar to official ones.
The RRB offers ways to help railroaders identify fraudulent emails, phone calls and websites. The RRB and other government agencies do not solicit personal information over the phone or email and do not request payment in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. If an email or phone call seems suspicious, avoid responding or clicking on links and verify the request directly with the identified entity. The RRB also makes recommendations for safeguarding personal information.
Throughout the ups and downs on Capitol Hill, ASLRRA’s efforts to advocate on behalf of its members remain steady and consistent.
The Association often works with others to help raise awareness of important rail issues, and one day that unites hundreds of fellow industry stakeholders in this effort is Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.
Railroad Day on Capitol Hill will be held on May 19, 2027. Save the date for this important event, which offers an opportunity for members of the public to connect with their elected officials and help them understand the importance of strong public policies that help railroads perform at increasingly high levels of efficiency and safety.
ASLRRA expects to open registration for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill in early 2027. Bookmark the Association’s Railroad Day on Capitol Hill webpage and watch for emails to stay abreast of information about this important event.
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.
JWilliams Contracting LLC is a railroad construction contractor specializing in railroad bridge construction. They provide experienced crews and equipment for railroad bridge projects throughout the United States, with a strong focus on safety, quality workmanship, and dependable project execution. Primary contact and Office Manager, Taylor Williams, can be reached by email at taylor.williams@jw-c.org.
Hedemora Turbo & Diesel is a Swedish turbocharger manufacturer with more than 120 years of engineering heritage serving the rail, marine, and power generation industries. Hedemora turbochargers are trusted in thousands of heavy-duty engine applications worldwide, helping operators improve reliability, fuel efficiency, and lifecycle performance. They work closely with railroad operators and OEMs to deliver compact, proven turbocharger solutions backed by responsive technical support and short lead times. For inquiries, please contact Terje Olsson by phone or email, +46 703 719 881 terje.olsson@hedemoratd.com.
ASLRRA’s inaugural Fall Super Regional Meeting is the place where connections will be made. With more than 15 committees and working groups hosting meetings, and Sandhouse Sessions for each region, attendees will see the full breadth of opportunities to engage with railroad peers and the broader industry, and help guide the work of the association.
The General Sessions each day will feature key industry leaders including:
Networking events include meals, evening receptions and a special event at Topgolf on Oct. 6. There are also special opportunities to meet directly with USDOT representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Build America Bureau.
Register today for the meeting, which takes place Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri. Registration rates will increase on Sept. 25. Also be sure to secure hotel lodging before the Sept. 25 cutoff date.
As a trusted partner to the rail industry, Würth delivers top quality products and personalized service day in and day out. ASLRRA members can expect exceptional customer service and exclusive discounted pricing on a huge assortment of products and equipment needed to implement an effective and efficient safety program.
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 popular recordings, presented by subject matter experts and including engaging audience Q&A at the end of the presentation:
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 create 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.
ASLRRA is pleased to welcome James Didelius of Walla Walla, Washington. A mechanical engineering student at Johns Hopkins University, Didelius is the Association’s newest government affairs intern. In this role, he will assist ASLRRA staff with its advocacy efforts, including outreach on Capitol Hill.
Didelius is not new to the railroad industry, as he was born the same year his father, Paul Didelius, started operations at Frontier Rail, Paul Didelius’s first short line railroad. The younger Didelius grew up alongside Frontier Rail, now Columbia Rail, working summers with the research and development and operations teams.
Many aspects of the rail industry interest Didelius. He is intrigued by railroads’ influence on the lives of everyday Americans and the way that technology has transformed safety and competition has boosted innovation. Didelius’s career aspirations remain rooted in rail, as he hopes to further explore ways to identify and invest in underutilized rail corridors and technologies.
Didelius has already served several weeks at ASLRRA and finds his work “familiarizes [him] with many aspects of policy, commerce, regulation, politics, and so much more, all on the topic of rail.” According to Didelius, “this opportunity represents the first time that I have really seen all matters of things tailored solely to rail, as opposed to the other way around.”
“Of this work, I find the frequent opportunities to interface with other stakeholders – railroads, federal agencies, representatives, other trade groups, and more – interesting and exciting,” said Didelius. “While ensuring that my day-to-day is never stale, it also gives me the chance to expand my horizons and become familiar with more aspects of this industry.”
Didelius’s mechanical interests are not limited to trains. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins’s Baja SAE team, which designs, builds and races a single-seat off-road car. Last year, he was responsible for designing the car’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). Didelius also enjoys working on cars outside of school, fixing up old ones and building new ones. He’s currently working on a 1970s Pontiac and 1980s Buick.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved safety upgrades to a railroad crossing in Barberton.
The crossing is operated by the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway Company, a subsidiary of ASLRRA member parent company The Wheeling Corporation. Federal funding will provide $435,990 to pay for installation of lights and gates, as well as a new crossing surface.
Sabrina Waiss and JR Gelnar traveled to San Diego, California to present an ASLRRA’s Leadership Development – Regulatory Module training seminar. Gelnar and Mitch Harris, Rio Grande Pacific Corporation vice president, safety and compliance, were the seminar presenters.
Yesterday Chuck Baker attended a meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Committee. ASLRRA is a member of the committee. The meeting featured a discussion of the latest legislative and regulatory developments affecting the transportation, infrastructure and supply chain sectors, as well as updates from Chamber of Commerce policy experts.
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.
This Friday, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) will host the latest in its William W. Hay Railroad Engineering Seminar Series. The seminar, offered in-person and as a Zoom webinar, is titled “Smart Connected Highway Grade Crossings for Enhanced Safety and Mobility: Leveraging Cloud-Based Predictive Analytics and C-V2X Communication Technologies.”
The seminar speaker is FRA Division Chief for Train Control and Communication Research Sam Alibrahim. He will discuss two research projects examining ways to improve safety and mobility at highway-rail grade crossings. The projects are in response to the issue of blocked crossings, as Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data shows over 22,000 blocked crossing reports submitted in less than a year to the FRA’s blocked crossing portal.
Registration for the seminar is free, but required. Professional development hours (PDHs) are available for a fee. Follow this link for more information and to register.
From Sept. 21 to 27, national rail safety nonprofit organization Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is observing See Tracks? Think Train Week along with its rail safety counterparts in Canada and Mexico and hundreds of partners in the U.S.
This is the 10th anniversary of this national campaign, previously known as Rail Safety Week. Throughout the week, rail industry professionals and stakeholders, law enforcement officials, first responder organizations, volunteers and countless others will raise awareness of rail safety education through in-person events, media interviews and online engagement.
Each day of the week has a specific theme and audience to facilitate sharing of targeted information to key demographics, such as transit riders, professional drivers and photographers. Key days of the week are Operation Clear Track, which took place yesterday, and Red Out for Rail Safety Day on Friday.
Operation Clear Track brings together OLI, Amtrak, law enforcement agencies and first responders for an outreach event to educate the public about crossing laws and the dangers of trespassing on or near railroad tracks. Red Out for Rail Safety Day encourages individuals to wear red to bring attention to the rail safety message.
ASLRRA will be participating in this week’s events by posting safety messages via social media. The Association will also share images of staff wearing red on Red Out for Rail Safety Day.
BNSF Railway announced two new short line additions to its Shortline Select program, R. J. Corman’s Tennessee Terminal and OmniTRAX’s Central Texas & Colorado River Railway.
According to BNSF, the program strengthens collaboration between short lines and the Class I railroad, resulting in improved alignment, coordination and visibility. Short lines also benefit from the opportunity to reach a broader customer base. The railroads join eight other Shortline Select partners, all of which are ASLRRA members.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
