short line railroads

Central Oregon & Pacific takes over UP operations in Eugene, Oregon, Saturday

Genesee & Wyoming short line Central Oregon & Pacific can take over local operations from Union Pacific in Eugene, Oregon, as soon as Saturday, federal regulators have ruled.

In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Surface Transportation Board denied the SMART-TD union’s request to scrutinize and reject the lease deal. The decision also denied Central Oregon & Pacific’s request that the board partially waive labor notification requirements.

G&W will take a phased approach to beginning operations on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/central-oregon-pacific-takes-over-up-operations-in-eugene-oregon-saturday

Tanner tabbed as new CEO of OmniTRAX

The Broe Group’s rail and real estate affiliate, OmniTRAX Inc., has announced the appointment of Colby Tanner as its new chief executive, effective April 15.

Tanner, who most recently served as group vice president for industrial products at BNSF Railway, will succeed Dean Piacente, who is set to retire in December and transition to the OmniTRAX board of directors.

Colby Tanner (Photo: OmniTRAX)

“Colby’s real estate development expertise is the ideal complement to our rail and real estate...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tanner-tabbed-as-new-ceo-of-omnitrax

Brandy D. Christian named next CEO of Patriot Rail

Yesterday, we reported that Brandy D. Christian is stepping down as president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans (and as CEO of its New Orleans Public Belt Railroad unit) in mid June to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.

She won’t be between jobs for long, That “opportunity in the private sector” is with Jacksonville, Fla., headquartered Patriot Rail Company, a portfolio company of Igneo Infrastructure Partners that owns and operates over 30 short line freight railroads across the U.S....

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/ports-terminals/brandy-d-christian-named-next-ceo-of-patriot-rail/

7 hot issues for rail stakeholders in 2024

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Railroads, shippers and unions are tracking hot topics ranging from service improvement to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/7-hot-issues-for-rail-stakeholders-in-2024

Regional Rail to acquire 2 Midwestern short lines

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Short-line operator Regional Rail, with support from its backer, infrastructure investment firm...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regional-rail-to-acquire-2-midwestern-short-lines

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

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

Gulf & Atlantic Railways reopens Mississippi-to-Tennessee short line

Short-line operator Gulf & Atlantic Railways (GAR) this week announced the reopening of the Grenada Railroad between Mississippi and Tennessee and the acquisition of the 18-mile Pioneer Valley Railroad in Massachusetts.

Grenada Railroad running again after being near abandonment

The Grenada Railroad in Mississippi is up and running again, after the rail line was nearly abandoned because of poor track conditions.

GAR owns the 235-mile Grenada Railroad, which runs along the Interstate 55 corridor...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gulf-atlantic-railways-reopens-mississippi-to-tennessee-short-line

Regional Rail acquires another North Carolina asset

Regional Rail has acquired the assets of Clinton Terminal Railroad in North Carolina.

The acquisition, announced this week, will expand Regional Rail’s presence in North Carolina. Regional Rail had acquired Carolina Coastal Railway in 2020. Carolina Coastal will be the new owner and operator of Clinton Terminal Railroad, which will be named the Clinton Branch of the railway. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

“We are excited to partner with the team at Clinton Terminal and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regional-rail-acquires-another-north-carolina-asset

Short-line operator: California’s new locomotive emissions rule could ‘kill’ industry

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Kennan H. Beard III doesn’t think it’s an exaggeration that the new California Air Resources...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/short-line-operator-californias-new-locomotive-emissions-rule-could-kill-industry

US Small Business Administration questions proposed train crew size rule

Among the thousands of comments received by the Federal Railroad Administration on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members in a freight locomotive cab was one from the U.S. Small Business Administration saying FRA “significantly understated” costs and the number of potentially affected businesses.

SBA’s Office of Advocacy is asking FRA to revise and republish its initial regulatory flexibility analysis because SBA maintains that FRA grossly underestimated how much the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-small-business-administration-questions-proposed-train-crew-size-rule

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