People News
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) confirms Collie Greenwood as General Manager and CEO. Also, Jack Dale Parliament, former D&I Railroad President and Small Railroad Committee Founder, has died. He was 66.
ASLRRA
ASLRRA Briefs
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and Iowa Northern Railway (IANR) officially launch the Short Line Training Center. Also, ASLRRA makes staffing changes.
Association Roundup: ASLRRA, APTA
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recognizes safety winners at its Eastern and Southern Region Meeting. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces that public transportation ridership has risen to more than 70% of pre-pandemic levels.
NTSB: Loose Debris from Mudslide Probable Cause of CSX Derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently determined that the probable cause of a February 13, 2020, derailment of CSX Transportation (CSX) train K42911 on a railroad track that runs between a hillside and the Russel Fork River in Draffin, Ky., was loose mud, vegetation, sand, soil and rock from a mudslide that obstructed the track following excessive rain accumulation over several weeks.
ASLRRA Briefs
What’s the value of attending American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) regional meetings? ASLRRA Board Chair Stefan Loeb weighs in. Also, September is National Preparedness Month in the U.S., and the association is offering disaster preparedness tools for members.
Association Briefs: WTS International, ASLRRA
The Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International and the Eno Center for Transportation (Eno) sign memorandum of understanding (MOU). Also, from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s weekly Views & News: A Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) report discusses results of Onboard Broken Rail Detection (OBRD) system research; ASLRRA congratulates industry colleagues on their retirements; and registration opens for first ASLRRA training seminar in 2023.
Baker to Congress: Be Ready to ‘Step In’ and Avert System Shutdown
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) President Chuck Baker on Sept. 10 sent a letter to Congressional leadership outlining the impact of a freight rail strike on the U.S. transportation network and the economy and urged Congress to “immediately step in and avert a system shutdown by legislatively implementing Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) recommendations,” should a voluntary agreement not be reached by the end of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) mandated “cooling off’ period on Sept. 15.
Association Briefs: SLSI, OneRail Coalition, ASLRRA
Limited spots available in Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) leadership training. Also, the OneRail Coalition sends letters to lawmakers encouraging strong support for rail in appropriations packages; and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) members receive preferred pricing on drug and alcohol testing services with Spark TS (previously Spark Training Solutions).
Small-Road Briefs: Watco, ASLRRA, Mississippi Export Railroad
Watco formalizes military outreach and hiring. Also, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) looks back at Auburn’s “greasy railroad” prank; and the Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Small-Road Briefs: Mississippi Southern Railroad, FRA
Mississippi congressional staffers tour Watco-owned Mississippi Southern Railroad (MSR). Also, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) could be opening the 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program soon and is continuing its Office Hours webinars to discuss Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program.