AAR Commends Federal Railroad Administration Interim Program Guidance on High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail
17 Jun 2009
Washington, D.C. – June 17, 2009 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today commended the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for its interim program guidance to states and regions for federal funding of high-speed intercity passenger and high-speed rail projects. AAR notes the guidance makes clear that states applying for grants will need to have written agreements with the host rail roads, so that issues such as safety, infrastructure capacity, compensation and liability are appropriately covered.
“Freight rail is the literal foundation for making the faster movement of people and goods by rail possible,” said AAR President and CEO Edward Hamberger. “We are pleased that FRA recognizes the fundamental need to have agreements in place with the private host railroads before embarking on these critical infrastructure projects.”
Today’s private freight rail network serves the vast majority of all passengers moving every day from city to city by train. For example, most of the 22,000 miles over which Amtrak moves its roughly 79,000 daily customers are on private freight railroad tracks.
“Striking the right balance while growing both passenger and freight rail is key to ensuring our national rail system keeps America’s economic engine running,” Hamberger added.
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Editors Note: The Association of American Railroads is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association whose members include the major freight railroads, or Class I railroads, of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Class I railroads represent 67 percent of the U.S. freight rail mileage and 90 percent of freight railroad industry employees. Railroads account for 43 percent of intercity freight volume — more than any other mode of transportation. To learn more about how freight rail works for America, the environment and for you, please visit: www.freightrailworks.org.