American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Archives

FRA awards more than $1.4B to short-line and passenger rail projects

25 September 2023

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded more than $1.4 billion to 70 rail improvement projects across 35 states and the District of Columbia through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.

FRA said the award total is the largest amount ever given, with nearly two-thirds of the funding affecting rural communities. The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) also called the awards historic because they represented a record $720...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-awards-more-than-1-4b-to-short-line-and-passenger-rail-projects

Freight rail panel: Sustainability needn’t break the bank

13 January 2022

While battery-electric and hydrogen-powered locomotives have received the lion’s share of coverage when it comes to North American freight railroads and sustainability initiatives, a railroad seeking to adopt sustainability or climate resiliency measures need not spend vast amounts of money.

Indeed, implementing sustainability initiatives may consist of determining where to adjust existing procedures to align with the goal of reducing carbon emissions, according to panelists who spoke at the Tran...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-rail-panel-sustainability-neednt-break-the-bank

Rail industry wants to keep infrastructure, capacity projects on track

6 January 2022

The issues that are before the Surface Transportation Board — reciprocal switching and proposed acquisitions — are important to rail shippers and the broader industry in 2022.

But the allocation of federal grants for infrastructure projects, regulatory discussions on crew staffing and automated track inspections, and efforts to relieve supply chain congestion, especially at the ports, also are weighing on the minds of those representing rail and intermodal interests.

“The freight rail industry...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-industry-wants-to-keep-infrastructure-capacity-projects-on-track

Why are freight railroads separated into classes?

22 May 2021

A photograph of a train hauling hopper cars across a valley.

U.S. freight railroads are usually identified as Class I, Class II or Class III. That can be helpful for several reasons.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent federal agency that oversees the economic regulation of freight railroads and deals with issues related to railroad rates and rail service, has divided the freight railroads into three categories based on their operating revenue. According to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), those...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/why-are-freight-railroads-separated-into-classes

Trucking, labor haggle over driver work rules

11 May 2021

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Teamsters union agree that truck driver fatigue is an issue, but the two organizations disagree on how to solve the problem.

Testifying on Tuesday at a Senate Commerce committee hearing on freight transportation issues, Lamont Byrd, director of the union’s safety and health department, told lawmakers that a big part of the problem are the changes made to the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations last year, which he says is resulting in drivers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-labor-haggle-over-driver-work-rules

Rail Roundup: UP’s grain transload project, senators’ grade crossing bill

30 April 2021

A Union Pacific train hauling rail cars.

Union Pacific constructing Chicago-agrea transload facility for agricultural producers

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) is constructing a grain transload facility near Chicago to benefit Midwest agricultural producers and processors and reduce their supply chain costs.

The company is building the facility within its Global IV intermodal terminal in Joliet, Illinois. The Union Pacific Global IV Transload Facility will be managed by JCT, a 50-50 joint venture between Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-ups-grain-transload-project-senators-grade-crossing-bill

Rail stakeholders see promise and peril in Biden infrastructure push

1 April 2021

Freight rail stakeholders looked favorably upon the prioritization of freight rail within the transportation infrastructure provisions in President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion, 10-year American Jobs Plan. But some worry about its price tag and projects they view as unrelated to infrastructure.

“The OneRail Coalition applauds the Administration for prioritizing rail as part of President Biden’s infrastructure proposal, and for recognizing rail’s role as part of the solution to climate issues. Rail is...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-stakeholders-see-promise-and-peril-in-biden-infrastructure-push

FMCSA gives railroad CMV drivers HOS relief

23 December 2020

Regulators have relaxed hours-of-service (HOS) rules for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers working for most of the nation’s railroads despite opposition from safety officials claiming that the exemption needlessly increases fatigue risk.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration five-year waiver would exempt commercial railroad employees from the FMCSA’s 14-hour and 60-hour/70-hour rules. Current HOS rules prohibit drivers from driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty as well...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-gives-railroad-cmv-drivers-hos-relief

AAR, ASLRRA mourn death of union leader

30 November 2020

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) expressed condolences over the death of Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department for the AFL-CIO.

WIllis, 53, died Sunday as a result of injuries sustained in a biking accident on Nov. 22.

“Larry’s passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew this thoughtful, tireless...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/aar-aslrra-mourn-death-of-union-leader

Rail stakeholders: Tough road ahead for infrastructure bill

7 July 2020

A photograph of tank cars parked at a rail yard.

The multibillion-dollar infrastructure bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week, but whether it can make it through the Republican-controlled Senate to President Donald Trump’s desk is less clear.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act on a largely party-line vote of 233-188 last Wednesday, and the bill now is in the U.S. Senate.

The act includes an infrastructure component that authorizes the federal government to spend nearly $500 billion over five years...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-stakeholders-tough-road-ahead-for-infrastructure-bill

+ More