Report: Railroads’ Lawsuit Against CARB Stayed

A federal judge Monday stayed railroad industry groups’ lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), “aimed at blocking newly adopted environmental regulations which, over time, will limit pollution and greenhouse gas

(SMART-TD Photograph)

Report: USDOT Calls on Appeals Court to Reject Petitions Against its Two-Person Crew Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reject petitions that seek to vacate its two-person crew rule, according to a Law360 report. The rule, issued earlier this year by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), was issued to establish “minimum safety requirements for the size of train crews.”

(Logo Courtesy of STB)

For STB, an Earful on Freight Rail Growth

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 16-17 held a public hearing regarding growth in the freight rail industry. The objective, it said, was to better understand “how the industry has grown and intends to grow.” Railroads and related organizations offered insights and in some cases a dose of skepticism.

(SLSI Photograph)

2024: A Milestone Anniversary Year for SLSI

September marks the 10th anniversary of the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI), a non-profit corporation that was founded in response to the tragic 2013 crude oil train accident at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and

(Screen Grab from BNSF Video)

Coalition to FCC: ‘Proceed With Caution on NextNav Petition’

A 70-member industry coalition, including the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), Association of American Railroads (AAR) and American Trucking Associations (ATA), has signed a U.S. Chamber of Commerce letter calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “proceed with caution” on a NextNav petition to establish a 5G terrestrial-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) network that they say “would significantly disrupt the hundreds of millions of devices on the current 902-928 MHz band.”

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah; left) and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas). (Photographs Courtesy of the U.S. Government)

Stop CARB Act Debuts in Congress

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas) on Sept. 12 introduced in Congress companion bills, both called the Stop CARB Act of 2024, which would repeal California’s waiver exemption in Section 209 of the Clean Air Act; repeal Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, which allows other states to adopt California’s emissions standards; and nullify any active or pending waivers granted to California. Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner weighs in.

(Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash)

Congress Eyes 45G Update

Both houses of Congress on Sept. 10 introduced bills that would improve the railroad track maintenance credit—also known as the 45G tax credit, referring to its section in the U.S. tax code—that has been “a powerful incentive for short lines to put more of their own funds to work upgrading track and bridges to modern standards,” according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).

Eugene “Gene” Hulburt Blabey II. (LAL Photograph)

In Memoriam: Eugene H. Blabey II

Eugene “Gene” Hulburt Blabey II, Chairman Emeritus of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad (LAL) and the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), as well as Board Member Emeritus of LAL

Seventy-four rail industry professionals attended ASLRRA's recent Railroad Accident/Incident (Part 225) training seminar in New Orleans. JR Gelnar and Sabrina Waiss were on hand to run the event, which also featured 10 speakers from the Federal Railroad Administration. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of ASLRRA)

ASLRRA Briefs: Safety Seminar Wrap-Up, Training Template Available

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) presents the Railroad Accidents/Incidents (Part 225) education seminar to a sold-out crowd; spots are still open for its final training seminar of 2024. Also, the Safety and Training Committee develops a new template to teach contractors host-railroad specific rules.

ASLRRA representatives will share examples of the ways short lines, including Missiion Mountain Railroad, have grown their businesses at next month’s STB hearing on freight rail industry growth trends and strategies. (Photograph Courtesy of ASLRRA)

ASLRRA Briefs

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) submits testimony for the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) September hearing on freight rail growth. Also, the association urges Class II’s and III’s seeking a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) exemption for certain one-person train crew operations to file their relevant paperwork now.

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