Cover story:
Three short lines extoll creativity to build business, earn ASLRRA award
Because of limited funds and manpower, short lines need to be creative, collaborative and resourceful to generate new business or increase traffic with existing customers. It might take the development of a partnership with a shipper or a joint effort with a government body to land a state or federal grant to help a small railroad spur growth.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) created the Business Development Award to recognize regionals and short lines that found innovative or sweat equity-driven ways to successfully build business. The award honors a proven marketing program or concept; exceptional customer service that improved a shipper relationship; new methods or models for better understanding a market and/or customers; an online presence that promotes a small railroad; or an inventive e-commerce strategy. The three small roads that earned that recognition in 2022 — and won the association's Business Development Award in the process — are the Allegheny Valley Railroad, CRANDIC Rail and Union County Industrial Railroad.
This month, Managing Editor Jeff Stagl checks in with executives at those short lines to learn what they did to receive the ASLRRA honor, why they did it and how their ingenuity is paying off.
|
