Baker to Congress: Don’t be short-sighted about short lines

When last we heard from American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) President Chuck Baker, he was testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety on the role Class II and III railroads play in supporting intermodal connections across the U.S. surface transportation network. He also urged support for the Short Line 45-G Tax Credit.

Baker to Senate: Short lines “more than a quaint name on the Monopoly Board”

In one of his first appearances before Congress as President of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), Chuck Baker testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety on the role Class II and III railroads play in supporting intermodal connections across the U.S. surface transportation network.

UPDATE: Short line tax credit; STB’s new members

Restoration of the 50% investment tax credit for short line railroads—commonly known as 45-G for its designated section in the Internal Revenue Code—again appears a reality in Congress after that “wall thing” debate interfered with the tax credit’s passage just prior to final adjournment of the 115th Congress.

Baker incoming ASLRRA President

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has named Charles H. “Chuck” Baker as President, effective Feb. 4, 2019.

Commentary

In Congress, it’s Hail Mary time

In the people’s company town of Washington, D.C., the most popular refrain during lame duck sessions of Congress—the fewer than 60 days between congressional elections and adjournment—is the catchphrase from Mariah Carey’s iconic tune, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

ASLRRA, Wabtec offer cloud PTC solution

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has entered into an agreement with Wabtec Railway Electronics, Inc. to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) support to its members via the Wabtec Cloud Multi-Tenant Back Office (MTBO) solution.

Chicago South Shore earns ASLRRA safety award

Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad’s safety record in 2017 was recognized with the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) prestigious President’s Award.

$2.4M FRA safety grant for short lines

Proving grant funding isn’t just for infrastructure, an industry support organization will get a large check to help improve safety.

ASLRRA, Rockwell Collins partner on PTC

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has selected Rockwell Collins to assist tenant short lines in creating safety-related documentation required to obtain permission to operate over a host railroad’s Positive Train Control (PTC)-equipped territory. ASLRRA said this is “the next step in our plan to provide a suite of services for short line railroads equipping for PTC.”

SLSI picks Cotton for key post

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has named Sam Cotton as Senior Manager, Safety and Operations, replacing Mike Long, who recently accepted a position with the Federal Railroad Administration. Cotton will be responsible for management of SLSI’s Safety Culture Assessment program, a “voluntary, non-punitive and confidential five-to-ten-day onsite process with a rigorous methodology that includes an online survey of staff, discussions with management, and observations of a railroad’s daily practices.”

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