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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.
This week ASLRRA welcomed over 300 attendees to the Central and Pacific Region Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Those who attended had the opportunity to hear from industry and subject-matter experts and participate in multiple networking opportunities, including a golf tournament at the English Turn Golf & Country Club.
During Tuesday’s General Session, three Class I executives provided business updates and spoke about efforts to work with short line railroads. Union Pacific Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Kenny Rocker, CPKC Senior Vice President, Merchandise, Energy, Transloads Coby Bullard and BNSF General Director, First and Last Mile Sales Mark Ganaway each lauded short lines for their ability to grow business even as the greater railroad industry remains largely flat. All three also talked about the eagerness of their respective railroads to continue strengthening and adding partnerships with short lines.
Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from short line leaders and join breakout sessions on subjects ranging from transloading and economic development to managing grant projects and working with state departments of transportation.
During the General Session on Tuesday and Wednesday, ASLRRA honored winners of the President’s Award in the Central and Pacific regions. These awards recognize those railroads with the best safety rate as measured by the lowest accident frequency rate per person-hour of operation below the industry average. Winners in each region are selected based on the previous year’s performance, according to Federal Railroad Administration accident/incident reporting data.
All of these opportunities combined with the chance to network across multiple events. In addition to golf, there was a happy hour hosted by the Young Professionals Committee, an opening night reception and multiple networking breaks and meals with sponsors and railroad industry colleagues.
ASLRRA is grateful to all those who sponsored and attended this region meeting and all the Association’s events in 2025. ASLRRA is looking forward to next year’s big events, Railroad Day on Capitol Hill on March 4 in Washington, D.C. and the 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, held April 12 to 14 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Central Region President's Award Winners
More than 500,000 Person-Hours Worked: Belt Railway Company of Chicago
Accepting the award is Junior Software Developer Mason Myre, Assistant Chief Mechanical Officer Robert Perham, Superintendent Jason Charbonneau and Manager of Signals Jorge Guerrero (second through fifth from left, respectively).
250,000 to 500,000 Person-Hours Worked: Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
Accepting the award are Superintendent of Transportation Shaun Kohlenberger (second from left), Director of Operating Practices Mike Prince (center) and Mechanical Superintendent Joe Bentrup (second from right).
150,000 to 250,000 Person-Hours Worked: South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad
Accepting the award is General Manager Jerry Waun (center).
50,000 to 150,000 Person-Hours Worked: Burlington Junction Railway
Accepting the award is Director of Safety and Transload Jeffrey Dean (center).
Less than 50,000 Person-Hours Worked: Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad
Accepting the award is Special Projects Coordinator Brandon Crouch (center).
Pacific Region President's Award Winners
(Not pictured: 150,000 to 250,000 Person-Hours Worked winner Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad.)
250,000 to 500,000 Person-Hours Worked: Portland & Western Railroad
Accepting the award is General Manager Scott Boyter (second from left).
50,000 to 150,000 Person-Hours Worked: Great Northwest Railroad
Accepting the award is General Manager Jerick Staker (second from left).
Less than 50,000 Person-Hours Worked: Southwestern Railroad
Accepting the award is President Dusty Young, Locomotive Foreman John Alexander and Roadmaster Jorge Barraza (second through fourth from left, respectively).
ASLRRA has filed supplemental comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Docket No. OSHA-2021-0009, the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rulemaking. The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy also filed a comment letter on the proposed rule.
Both ASLRRA and the SBA’s comments were in response to issues brought up during an informal public hearing held by OSHA that spanned various dates in June and July. Those who participated in the hearing were able to submit comments during the post-hearing period to present additional evidence and data relevant to the proceeding, as well as written responses to questions and final written briefs.
In ASLRRA’s comments, the Association refutes an unsubstantiated claim made by a labor representative during the hearing, which said railroads were not accurately reporting heat-related illnesses and injuries. In fact, 49 C.F.R. Part 225 requires railroads to provide the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) with accurate information concerning the hazards and risks that exist on U.S. railroads. Transparency is also prioritized, as the regulations require that accident and incident reports by railroads in compliance with the rules of Part 225 be made available to the public for inspection.
The Office of Advocacy’s comments reiterate its position on this proposed rule, address questions raised to hearing witnesses and respond to a question from OSHA regarding performance standards. The Office of Advocacy recommends that OSHA consider implementing a more flexible, performance-oriented approach to the rule; consider and provide for work environments and situations not currently addressed in the proposed rule; and adopt a more appropriate definition of economic feasibility.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a new safety bulletin after a fatality that occurred on Oct. 19.
The accident occurred when a conductor with 12 years of experience was fatally injured after being struck from behind by a train. The conductor had released handbrakes on his train and was walking within the foul of an adjacent main track. The operator of the oncoming train saw the conductor, sounded the horn and transmitted over radio to the conductor. However the conductor did not have his handheld radio with him and did not respond to the horn.
The safety bulletin reminds railroads to ensure all safety briefings and training sessions cover pertinent operating rules. These include applicable personal safety rules and communication requirements. Railroad managers and employees are also encouraged to review related safety communications from FRA, including FRA Safety Bulletin 2024-07 and Safety Advisory 2010-03.
ASLRRA maintains a list of recent safety notifications and other agency alerts on its website. Click here to view them.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published two documents in its eLibrary concerning Part 219, Control of Drug and Alcohol Use. The first is an informational brochure about the FRA’s Part 219 Subpart K Referral Program, while the second is a drug and alcohol employee handout.
The brochure notes that railroads in full compliance must adopt, publish and implement a referral program that specifies ways a self-referral, co-worker referral and, if adopted, a non-peer referral can occur. There is also a brief description about maintaining employment with a railroad and the employment action a railroad may take if a regulated employee does not seek assistance through a referral program.
The employee handout is meant to provide individuals with information to comply with federal testing. There are details about drug and alcohol prohibitions, prescription and over-the-counter medications, urine specimen collection, refusal to test, testing “fatal flaws” and highway-rail grade crossing accidents. Though the document itself is dated March 4, 2022, the eLibrary entry notes an effective date the same as the recent posting date, Oct. 27, 2025.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced it is soliciting public feedback on the Idaho Statewide Rail Plan. Comments are due Nov. 12.
According to the ITD planning website, the rail plan “evaluates the current condition and performance of Idaho’s rail network, identifies system-wide challenges and opportunities and outlines strategies to strengthen rail infrastructure.”
Stakeholders should review the draft rail plan before submitting comments. Comments can be submitted directly via the ITD website. Individuals can also sign up to receive a different version of the comment survey if having trouble with the ITD’s page.
The City of Fayetteville is seeking public feedback for the NWA Rail Crossing Study, otherwise known as the Northwest Arkansas Rail Corridor Safety Study. The study’s goal is to identify safety improvements at eight rail crossings along a 14-mile section of line on ASLRRA member Arkansas & Missouri Railroad.
The city will release suggested improvements for the eight crossings on Nov. 10, with comments due Dec. 11. Until then, the public can review the NWA Rail Crossing Study website and view a map of the crossings being evaluated. The website also lists actions that could be taken, including improving safety features, creating grade separations or closing crossings.
The public is also invited to two open houses, one on Nov. 10 in Springdale and one on Nov. 12 in Fayetteville, to review proposals for the crossings. Funding for the project comes from a federal Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Program grant.
The Senate is in session this week while the House remains in recess. The federal government has now been shut down for over a month and today breaks the record for the longest shutdown in history.
Pressure is mounting on all parties to reopen the government – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ran out of funding last week, although courts have ordered the Trump Administration to use contingency funds for the program. Meanwhile, thousands of federal workers remain unpaid, and multiple labor unions have called for the government to reopen.
Rank-and-file senators are reportedly negotiating on fiscal year 2026 spending bills, with hopes it could help end the shutdown, even as there is no agreement on the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. This could be a pivotal week for something to shift.
Know a company that would benefit from joining and participating in ASLRRA? Let us know by emailing us at membership@aslrra.org.
Mountain States Contract Switching (MSCS) is an industrial park switching company based in Phoenix, Arizona. MSCS is part of Mountain States Contracting, a full-service railroad engineering and construction firm with over 40 years of experience. The company is headquartered in Arizona but serves the entire Western U.S., providing provide design and build, new construction, repairs, maintenance and inspection services.
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.
The Coalition Heath Plan is specifically designed for ASLRRA members looking for a solution to reduce their medical premiums and simplify the healthcare experience for their employees. As the fifth largest broker in the world with over 500 locations in North America, HUB International is well equipped to provide ASLRRA members with a vast network of benefits experts and best-in-class resources no matter where the member company is located in the US.
Partnering with HUB puts ASLRRA members at the center of a vast network of experts who provide risk services, claims management, and compliance support. Visit ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program page and select Employee Health Insurance to start saving today.
Through collaboration with members of ASLRRA’s Human Resources Committee, the Association has created several webpages to help educate the public about jobs in the short line and regional railroad industry, offer Association members a way to share links to their career pages and share information about rail education opportunities at institutions across the country.
In addition to sharing these pages – the general overview Career Opportunities page, the Industry Employment page with railroad career links and the Railroad Education Providers page – with the public through its own communications channels, ASLRRA encourages its members to use these resources as needed to supplement their recruitment efforts.
ASLRRA updates the employment page and education page on a rolling basis, whenever the Association receives requests from members to participate. Those interested in being listed on the Industry Employment page can send their company name, career page link and ASLRRA region, if known, to Mariel Takamura at mtakamura@aslrra.org.
Those with other questions, or educational institutions looking to be added to the Railroad Education Providers page, can also contact Takamura at the email address listed above.
This section highlights ASLRRA members that have received Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants, showcasing the importance of this funding and how benefits reach beyond the railroad itself.
If your railroad has received a CRISI grant and would like to submit information for this section please complete our online form.
Project Facts
Awardee: Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway (NKCR)
Fiscal Year: 2020
CRISI Grant: $4,505,542
Local Match: $4,505,542 (50%)
Total Project Cost: $9,011,084
The project installed approximately 42,595 ties and 15,990 tons of ballast and resurfaced 562,848 track feet on the NKCR in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado. The project allowed for removal of slow orders on approximately 106.6 miles of track and restored efficient operating speeds over most of the line. The improvements reduced overall trip times along the corridor by a minimum of four hours and lowered operating costs by reducing locomotive utilization and allowing crews to make a round-trip along the line within one day.
Notable Quotes
"The VERTICAL project will be a major rehabilitation of the freight rail line from Sterling, CO, to Wallace, NE, focused on removing slow orders where track conditions force trains to slow to a crawl. This line is the only rail connection for many agricultural customers in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado.”
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)
ASLRRA President Chuck Baker recently talked about the short line railroad industry with Don Walsh of the Revolution Rail Group. Baker’s interview is the newest episode of the American Railroading Podcast.
Titled “The Story of American Short Line Railroads,” the podcast offers a comprehensive overview of the industry, from its earliest days to the modern age. Baker talks about how deregulation under the Staggers Act led to a rebirth of the short line industry. He also explains short lines’ significant contributions to the economy at local, state and national levels and offers some thoughts on the current state of the industry.
Listen to the podcast here, or watch a video version of the interview on the American Railroading Podcast YouTube page.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has again partnered with ASLRRA to present a series of webinars on important railroad retirement topics. Edward Hinsberger, Milwaukee district manager for the RRB, will explore general eligibility, retirement and disability benefits, working after retirement, spouse and survivor benefits, unemployment and sickness benefits and more.
Each webinar is scheduled for 90 minutes to allow ample time for audience questions. Webinars are free for ASLRRA members and $15 for non-members. Follow each link below for more information or to register.
On Oct. 30, the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) held its 200th hazardous materials (hazmat) training event, hosted by the TGS Group in Baytown, Texas. Since starting the program in 2018, SLSI has trained 6,786 short line and regional railroad employees and first responders from 1,050 organizations.
“Our hazardous materials in-person training has been one of our most impactful offerings and has been received well by railroaders and first responders alike. Our staff has more than 700 years of expertise in hazardous materials safety, and we are pleased to put that knowledge to work for the benefit of short lines and communities across the country,” said SLSI Executive Director Tom Murta. “SLSI delivers a variety of high-quality interactive training programs to railroads of any size, particularly those in rural areas.”
The need for supplemental training on the safe movement of hazmat and the need to communicate and coordinate with first responders during incident pre-planning, mitigation and recovery efforts were identified through Safety Culture Assessments (SCAs) conducted by the SLSI on short lines across the country. SLSI hazmat training is supported by two grants from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
SLSI training often includes multiple railroads and first responder groups, as many railroads touch a number of towns and localities. Training is customized for the railroads participating to reflect specific scenarios that would be possible on their property.
Hazmat training and materials provided by the SLSI also include videos and safety tips for safety briefings, Transportation Emergency Response Plans (TERPs), and Emergency Preparedness, Reporting and Response Exercises (EPRREs) that educate teams on working within the Incident Command System during an incident response.
Click here to schedule hazmat training or other events. Sign up for e-mail news on SLSI’s home page and follow on LinkedIn for more updates.
BNSF Railway announced on social media that it has selected two new short lines, Northern Lines Railway and Columbia Basin Railroad, to join its Shortline Select program. Both railroads are ASLRRA members.
The program began last year as a way to strengthen collaboration between BNSF and short line railroads on the Class I’s national network. The partnership allows the railroads to align service schedules, use shared data systems and more to improve car movement and visibility for customers.
Northern Lines Railway and Columbia Basin Railroad join six other Shortline Select members, Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, Burlington Junction Railway, Portland & Western Railroad, Red River Valley & Western, Texas North Western Railway and Timber Rock Railroad, all of which are also ASLRRA members.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
