Conductor keeps rail traffic moving at Ellis & Eastern
Seminole Gulf Railway begins major rail upgrade project
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.
ASLRRA has opened registration for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, taking place March 4 in Washington, D.C. Attendance is open to Class I, II, and III railroad personnel, shippers, members from the supplier community and members of industry associations.
Railroad Day joins the voices of hundreds of stakeholders, bringing a unified contingent to the halls of Congress to advocate for smart, sensible policies that move the rail industry forward. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with elected officials and their staff to talk face-to-face about important industry issues.
Meetings take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In the morning attendees can meet to pick up meeting materials and a grab-and-go breakfast, and in the evening there will be a reception where participants will be joined by members of Congress, federal agency officials and congressional staff.
Individuals can register to participate in meetings only, the evening reception only or both the meetings and evening reception. Click here to register for Railroad Day.
ASLRRA is currently welcoming sponsors for this event. Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. The Association is also grateful to the supporting organizations who help make this event possible:
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee has issued two new safety alerts, one concerning an increase in railroad vehicle accidents and the second a reminder about historical spikes in accidents during the fourth quarter.
The first alert says that recent reviews of injury data show a significant increase in automobile accidents involving roadway maintenance and signal employees. Noting a “clear and growing safety concern,” the committee shared a list of safety recommendations for vehicle operators and passengers. The list includes reminders about hours-of-service laws, backing procedures, vehicle inspections, distraction-free driving, active passenger awareness and more.
The second alert is the committee’s annual reminder to roadway workers that fatal incidents spike during the fourth quarter of the year. Data collected since 1997 shows that the highest number of incidents occur during these months, including 36 percent of all fatalities. The committee urges workers to exercise extreme vigilance when applying on-track safety procedures and speak up if there are concerns about the application of on-track safety at the job site.
ASLRRA’s Safety Alerts, Reports and Advisories webpage features recent safety communications from federal agencies. Click here to view the page.
The first in a new training series being offered online by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will begin next week, Dec. 8 to 12. The sessions are intended for any rail and labor employer or creditable sickness provider covered under the Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.
According to RRB officials, the first session covers employer reporting and “is designed to assist new and existing contact officials with preparing and filing annual reports for submission to the agency.” This particular training is meant to help employers as they work to prepare and submit W2 forms to the Internal Revenue Service in January.
Sessions will be held on the RRB’s webinar platform and are limited to 250 participants. Certification contact officials will receive email notifications with registration links, with registration open until 6 a.m. CST the day of the event.
With the end of the year almost here, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has published information about changes to insurance taxes and Medicare Part B coming in 2026. The RRB also released the December installment of its question and answer (Q&A) series focused on private pensions.
In the release about railroad retirement and unemployment insurance taxes, the RRB says that the amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2026. However, tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same, and unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by employers will not include a surcharge.
The article further breaks down the increased maximum amount of employee earnings subject to taxes and discusses employer-paid unemployment insurance contributions.
In the release about Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles, the RRB says that the standard monthly Part B premium will increase to $202.90 in 2026, up from $185 in 2025, although not all beneficiaries will pay that amount. The annual deductible in 2026 will increase $26 to $283.
The article also includes a table showing income-related Part B premium adjustments for 2026, since beneficiaries pay different amounts based on their income. Individuals who will be affected by the 2026 income-related premiums will receive a notice from the Social Security Administration, which makes amount determinations based on the individual’s most recent tax return information.
In the December Q&A, the RRB reminds railroad retirement annuitants that receiving a private railroad pension can reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity paid by the agency. The RRB explains its eligibility requirements for supplemental annuities and how receipt of a private pension affects those payments, noting that receiving a 401(k) plan distribution does not affect employee supplemental annuities. Still, 401(k) contributions are subject to railroad retirement tier I and II payroll taxes.
In a fourth announcement, the RRB said it has appointed Jebby Rasputnis as the agency’s director of programs. She has served as acting director since June, following the retirement of Arturo Cardenas. Before joining the RRB in 2024, Rasputnis worked in the private sector before joining the Department of Veterans Affairs and later the Social Security Administration.
A press release from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announces a memo describing a new data-driven framework for inspection and enforcement for PHMSA hazardous materials (hazmat) inspectors and investigators within the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS).
The memo tells agency inspectors and investigators to “focus on areas with the greatest potential impact on hazardous materials safety and to base their decisions on data-driven analyses.” Also discussed are priorities for outreach to regulated entities to help prevent any safety violations and accidents. Included in PHMSA’s press release on the memo are lists of outreach, inspection and enforcement priorities.
The OHMS Inspection and Enforcement Priorities Memo can be found here.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it has approved the Fortress Investment Group’s acquisition of two short line railroads, Akron Barberton Cluster Railway Company (ABC) and ASLRRA member Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE).
In its filings, Fortress Investment Group said the transaction benefits both railroads. W&LE shares a common customer with a railroad already controlled by Fortress, and that customer filed a statement in support of the acquisition. There were no filings made in opposition. The board’s press release says that the transaction “satisfies the applicable statutory criteria and will not result in significant impacts on competition.”
New communications from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Accident Investigation Team Chief Inspectors comes in the form of a newsletter titled “Chief’s Corner.” The December 2025 issue focuses on derailments involving auto racks carrying electric and hybrid vehicles.
Derailments involving these types of vehicles are especially dangerous due to their lithium batteries, which, when damaged, can emit highly flammable toxic gases, explode without warning, reignite after being extinguished and be an electrocution risk.
The newsletter notes that train consists do not identify electric vehicles or hybrids. Railroad workers are warned to assume auto rack railcars are loaded with electric vehicles and to allow emergency responders to secure the scene before inspecting these railcars.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking public input on its State Rail Plan, which is being updated. Feedback is due Jan. 31.
ODOT will hold a virtual public information meeting on Dec. 9 to present rail plan updates. After the meeting, all presentation materials will be made available on the rail plan website. Once the draft rail plan is released, ODOT will hold another public meeting.
The House and Senate are in session this week. With just a few weeks remaining before Congress recesses for the holidays, lawmakers have a busy month ahead of them.
Affordable Care Act premium subsidies are set to expire on Dec. 31. Democrats are continuing to push for an extension of the credits while Republicans continue to weigh their options. Congress is also trying to move forward on fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) would like to group several appropriations bills into a minibus. Additionally, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is expected to be finalized and made public this week.
ASLRRA staff continues to push for 45G short line tax credit modernization bill cosponsors and are working with Senate Commerce and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff on their respective surface transportation reauthorization proposals.
ASLRRA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition promises to offer the robust education and networking schedule railroaders and suppliers have come to expect from the short line industry’s premier event.
The Annual Conference brings together hundreds for the opportunity to learn about and discuss a variety of topics. From industry regulations to railroad technology, business development to communications, everyone stands to gain valuable insight on issues they face in the workplace.
The conference also provides networking opportunities, where short line professionals can connect with their counterparts from railroads across the country, learning about best practices, brainstorming solutions to common problems and building valuable connections. Supplier companies are also well represented at ASLRRA’s conference, offering the chance to cultivate important business relationships.
Register today to secure a spot at the early bird rate. ASLRRA also has room blocks in four hotels within walking distance of the convention center. Click here to view hotels and reserve lodging.
Organizations interested in sponsoring the 2026 Annual Conference have a variety of opportunities from which to choose. Click here to learn more, or contact the meetings team to secure a sponsorship.
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.
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.
Created through collaboration between ASLRRA staff, members of the Human Resources (HR) Committee’s Recruiting and Retention Subcommittee and others, ASLRRA’s short line industry employment video is meant to support railroads’ recruitment and workforce development efforts.
The video features testimony from several short line railroad employees who share what they enjoy about their jobs, describe the many opportunities for lateral and vertical career moves and discuss the ways short lines support military veterans. ASLRRA President Chuck Baker also makes an appearance, offering his thoughts on the short line industry and what makes it such a good fit for many different people.
The video is a resource ASLRRA members can use as part of their own employee recruitment toolkit. Railroads can post the video on their websites and share it on social media, which can help raise awareness of the short line industry and the opportunities it offers. The video is the latest step in an effort to tell more people about small railroads and encourage awareness of opportunities in the industry.
ASLRRA member Columbia Rail will receive $175,000 in grants to improve seven rail crossings on its line. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the funding, which comes from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF).
Columbia Rail will install crossing signal bungalows at each of the seven crossings. The bungalows protect the electronic equipment that detects approaching trains and activates warning lights and gates. They will include heating and air condition elements to stabilize conditions and prevent system failures.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) approved funding for eight freight rail projects, including three being completed by ASLRRA members.
Ashland Railway will use a $237,000 grant to rehabilitate four miles of mainline track, while Cincinnati Eastern Railroad will receive $300,000 grant to replace deteriorated timber ties on a rail bridge. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will receive a $900,000 loan for a locomotive repower project, upgrading two engines to Tier 4 all-electric engines, which will reduce emissions and lower maintenance costs.
Three other awards will go to shippers and a local port authority for projects to ensure continued rail service and support local businesses. The final two grants are made through the Ohio Grade Crossing Elimination Program for replacement of at-grade crossings.
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: Panhandle Northern Railroad
Fiscal Year: 2017
CRISI Grant: $2,164,255
Local Match: $2,164,256 (50%)
Total Project Cost: $4,328,511
The proposed project will decrease derailment risk on the Class III Panhandle Northern Railroad (PNR) by installing 13,682 new railroad ties and 13,415 tons of ballast. The PNR connects the BNSF mainline with the largest inland chemical and refinery complex in the U.S. The project will improve safety on a line that transports more than 20,000 carloads of hazardous materials annually. See a video overview of project here.
Notable Quotes
“The products produced at our industrial plants are hazardous products so maintaining safe track is critical in maintaining public safety and economic conditions for our community”
Garrett Spradling, City Manager, Borger, TX
JR Gelnar traveled to Texas to attend a meeting of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) team discusses Safety Action Plans and provides steps on how to develop one. A Safety Action Plan is a living document that tracks your safety performance, manages your safety programs, and outlines your future safety goals. Whether you don't know where to begin or have already developed one and have specific questions, SLSI's "Ask the Experts" is here to be your resource to keep safety on track.
Speakers: Sam Cotton, Director of Safety Culture Programs, SLSI; Julia Leone, PhD, Assistant Director of Research and Organizational Development, SLSI; Karen Adams, Safety Culture Assessor, SLSI
All parts of the recent Railroad Retirement webinar series are now available to members in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinars library. Part 1 was offered twice, so recordings of both presentations are available. Members can also access all presentation materials from the series.
The railroad retirement webinar series comprise just a few of the over 200 recorded webinars available to members at any time online. Log in to view the regulatory, legal, communications, technology and many other webinars in ASLRRA’s library.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
