This drone image shows the site of Iowa Interstate Railroad's wind energy component transload facility in Newton, Iowa, while it was under construction. Directly adjacent to the facility is TPI Composites, a wind turbine blade manufacturer. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of ASLRRA)

IAIS Earns ASLRRA’s Environmental Award

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) on Feb. 26 reported selecting Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) as its 2025 Environmental Award recipient. The award will be presented at the 2025

Railway Age’s 2025 Short Line Railroad of the Year is Rochester & Erie Railway LLC (RER). (Eric Thurlow Photograph)

Railway Age Announces 2025 Short Line, Regional Railroads of the Year

Railway Age proudly recognizes Rochester & Erie Railway LLC (RER) and Railroad Development Corporation’s Iowa Interstate Railroad LLC (IAIS) as our 2025 Short Line and Regional Railroads of the Year, respectively. Earning

Matthew Lane, General Manager, Pioneer Valley Railroad. (Photograph Courtesy of ASLRRA)

ASLRRA Honors Safety Person of the Year

Matthew Lane, General Manager of Pioneer Valley Railroad (PVRR), has earned 2025 Safety Person of the Year from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).

Herman Crosson (left) and Edwin “Ed” McKechnie, ASLRRA award honorees. (Photographs Courtesy of ARH and ASLRRA, respectively)

Crosson, McKechnie Earn ASLRRA Awards

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has selected Herman Crosson, Chief Safety and Compliance Officer at Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH), as Safety Professional of the Year, and Edwin “Ed”

Commentary

Why I Remain Cautiously Optimistic

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE: A favorite phrase we use in Washington, D.C., is “cautiously optimistic.” Roughly translated, it means “I don’t really know how this is going to turn out,

The Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee’s Jan. 23 hearing included testimony from (left to right) Ian Jefferies, President and CEO, of the Association of American Railroads; Chuck Baker, President of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association; Joe Daloisio, Chairman of the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC); and Jared Cassity, Alternate National Safety and Legislative Director of SMART-TD. (Screen Grabs from Hearing Video)

For House Rail Subcommittee, An Earful on Rail

Rail industry stakeholders on Jan. 23 outlined their priorities and suggestions for potential surface transportation legislative proposals in the 119th Congress during a hearing of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. Among the key topics: support for and streamlining of programs that help build and improve U.S. rail infrastructure, such as CRISI, plus the use of technology to boost safety.

Chicago South Shore & South Bend. (Anacostia Rail Holdings photograph)

Legislation Introduced to ‘Modernize’ 45G

The Short Line Railroad Tax Credit Modernization Act has been introduced by U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania and Mike Thompson of California, the Chairman and senior Democrat of the House Ways

(Image of AAR, ASLRRA Comments to FRA Courtesy of ASLRRA)

Industry Responds to Potential PTC Reg Changes

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) earlier this month submitted comments to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding its proposal to amend regulations governing PTC (Positive Train Control) systems to address temporary situations when the technology is not enabled.

(Steve Halama, Unsplash)

CARB Cancels In-Use Locomotive Rule

California has withdrawn its pending waiver and authorization requests that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet acted on. In a win for railroads, this includes the In-Use Locomotive Regulation.

Watco congratulates 10 teams for achieving safety milestones in December. (Image Courtesy of Watco)

Small-Road Briefs: ASLRRA, Watco

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) Legislative Policy Committee elects a Board representative, Chair and Vice Chair. Also, 10 Watco teams wrap up 2024 on a high note, achieving safety milestones.

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