ASLRRA Legal and Office Administrator Kathi Birch

Birch Joins ASLRRA as New Legal and Office Administrator

The American Short Line and Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recently announced that Kathi Birch has joined as the new Legal and Office Administrator. She will be responsible for a range of administrative and paralegal duties, and will report to Senior Vice President, Law and General Counsel Sarah Yurasko.

National Steel Car Exonerated in NS Derailment, Investigation Closed (Updated Oct. 18 with additional NTSB Information)

Train consist makeup, not defective wheelsets, caused the March 4, 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Springfield, Ohio. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on April 14 cancelled EI (Equipment

AAR: U.S. Intermodal Up, Carloads Down in Week 41

For the week ending Oct. 14, 2023 (Week 41), total U.S. rail traffic was 492,781 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 18. It is the fifth consecutive week of gains for intermodal units while carloads took a dip.

Gov. Laura Kelly on Oct. 11 announced that Kansas would have a two-person crew rule “to improve safety.” (Gov. Kelly’s Office Photograph)

Kansas Attempts Two-Person Crew Requirement

The state of Kansas on Nov. 3 will put into effect an administrative rule requiring two-person freight railroad crews.

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 40

For the week ending Oct. 7, 2023 (Week 40), total U.S. rail traffic was 499,217 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.0% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 11. It is the fourth consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units.

(Photograph Courtesy of BNSF, via LinkedIn)

AAR: Rail Traffic Remains ‘Uncertain’

“Rail traffic, although improving, remains in uncertain territory along with the economy,” Association of American Railroads (AAR) Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported Oct. 4. While intermodal had “the best volume month of the year in September,” he said, “a sustained boost across rail categories will require stronger overall industrial growth.”

STB to AAR on Reciprocal Switching: 15 More Days to Comment

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has partially granted the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) request to extend the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued Sept. 7, 2023 in Docket

(FRA Photograph)

FRA Examines Vertical Split Rim Causes, Prevention

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this month released a technical report on the causes and prevention vertical split rim (VSR), which is related broken wheel rims, one of the leading causes of FRA-reportable wheel-related accidents.

(Screen Grab Courtesy of TTX YouTube Video)

U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 38

For the week ending Sept. 23, 2023 (Week 38), total U.S. rail traffic was 493,323 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 27. It is the second consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units, following weeks of losses or virtually flat results for both.

AAR to STB on Reciprocal Switching: We Need 90 More Days

The Association of American Railroads has asked the Surface Transportation Board for a 90-day extension of the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued Sept. 7, 2023 in Docket No. EP 711(Sub-No. 2), Reciprocal Switching for Inadequate Service. If granted, AAR’s request will extend the comment period to Feb. 20, 2024.

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