Seminole Gulf Railway

Donalds Reintroduces Legislation to Secure Disaster Relief for Short Line Railroads as Hurricane Season 2023 Begins

Last week Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) reintroduced H.R. 3782—The Short Line Railroad Relief Act—alongside Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Don Bacon (R-NE) and Troy Nehls (R-TX). This legislation authorizes the establishment of a disaster relief program to provide much-needed immediate financial assistance to our nation’s short line railroads.   

(Short Line Safety Institute Photograph)
Commentary

Safety Is Quite Good—But Not Good Enough

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE MAY 2023 ISSUE: The question on the table is: “What is the biggest challenge facing the North American freight rail industry, and how can it be addressed?” The

ASLRRA on May 17 reported via Twitter: “Meeting Rep. @MikeKellyPA today was wonderful! We had the chance to talk with him about how providing robust funding for infrastructure investments for #ShortLines is a proven way to help improve the industry’s (already excellent) safety record. #ASLRRAAdvocacy” (ASLRRA Photograph, via Twitter)

Short Lines Gather for Inaugural ‘Advocacy Day’

More than 150 representatives from Class II and III railroads, suppliers and supporting associations participated in the inaugural Short Line Railroad Advocacy Day, which was held May 17 in Washington, D.C. They

The May 11 hearing, “Getting Back on Track: Exploring Rail Supply Chain Resilience and Challenges,” was led by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Tex.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

For House Rail Subcommittee, an Earful on Supply Chain Improvements

The rail industry’s role in overcoming supply chain challenges was the theme of a May 11 hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. It was part of what the T&I Committee called its continued “focus on ongoing supply chain challenges throughout the transportation sector, with the goal of identifying potential legislative solutions.” Among the five witnesses was American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) President Chuck Baker, who urged Congress members “to wield their pen with precision.”

(Steve Halama, Unsplash)

CARB Passes New In-Use Locomotive Regulation (Updated 5/3)

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on April 27 passed a new rule aimed at reducing emissions from locomotives when they operate within the state.

Chuck Baker, President, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
Commentary

Safety: How You Function When No One is Watching

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE APRIL 2023 ISSUE: It has been a tumultuous two months of railroad reporting, commentary, and legislative and regulatory proposals since the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio—some factual, some speculative,

Justin Broyles, Vice Chair, ASLRRA Board of Directors

R.J. Corman’s Broyles Named ASLRRA Board Vice Chair

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has appointed a new Vice Chairman of its Executive Board of Directors: Justin Broyles, Executive Vice President, Commercial Affairs at R.J. Corman Railroad Group. He will serve a three-year term.

Left to Right: Safety Person of the Year Raul Guerrero, a track inspector at the Texas North Western Railway; Safety Professional of the Year Austin Milton, Director, Safety & Training at The Indiana Rail Road Company; and Schlosser Distinguished Service Award winner Jack Dale Parliament, former President of the D&I Railroad, who passed away in October.

ASLRRA Honors Short Lines, Members at Annual Conference

At its Annual Conference and Exhibition, which took place April 2-4 in New Orleans, the American Short Line and Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has recognized three member railroads for innovative business success and one with Veterans and Environmental Awards, in addition to honoring two individual members with career-level safety awards and one posthumous Schlosser Distinguished Service Award.

Michigan Technological University's Zach Stanchina (left) and Lake State Railway's Roger Fuehring work to collect data on locomotive emissions for a study conducted through a partnership with ASLRRA, Michigan Tech, Lake State Railway and Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad. The study is funded by a Federal Railroad Administration grant.

ASLRRA Advances Work on Grant-Funded Emissions Study

The American Short Line and Railroad Association (ASLRRA) is working with Michigan Technological University and members Lake State Railway and Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad to advance the “Evaluation of Non-traditional Methods of Reducing Locomotive Emissions for Short Line Railroads” project, which was funded through a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant received last year, to study short line locomotive emissions and the use of fuel additives and fuel injectors.

Albemarle Corporation’s planned facility in South Carolina “will help increase the production of U.S.-based lithium resources,” according to CEO Kent Masters, who noted that the Chester County location offers access to rail and port transportation as well as the availability of skilled workers.

Albemarle to Launch $1.3B Lithium Hydroxide Plant in South Carolina

Albemarle Corp. is planning a new lithium hydroxide processing plant in Chester County, S.C., to be served by Lancaster & Chester Railroad. Construction is slated to start next year on the facility

LOAD MORE