American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association | 3 The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association celebrated 100 years of existence last year and has since begun its second century in much the way it ended its first, by representing the interests of its 450 short line and regional railroad members in legislative and regulatory matters. Short line and regional railroads are an important and growing component of the railroad industry, operating and maintaining 30 percent of the American railroad industry’s route mileage, and accounting for 9 percent of the rail industry’s freight revenue and 12 percent of railroad employment. Membership has increased three-fold since 1980, according to David Mears, the organization’s assistant vice president. Mears said the rise is numbers is attributable to loosened economic oversight on the industry, which has permitted some of the bigger operators in the United States to spin off from less-successful lines, which, as short lines, then became profitable and sustaining entities. Business World spoke with Mears to discuss the organization’s main roles, its engagement with membership and the future of the short-line segment in the industry.
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