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Some Pennsylvania regionals and short lines soon will have state funds in hand to help pay for track improvements aimed at boosting service and supporting 286,000-pound rail cars.\p
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Aug. 24 issued nearly $7 million in Rail Freight Assistance Program grants to 42 railroads and governmental bodies, to be used toward constructing, maintaining, repairing and rehabilitating track, sidings and crossings.

"Keeping short-line and regional railroads in good operating condition means we're keeping freight moving, while supporting employers, jobs and families," said PennDOT Secretary Bradley Mallory in a prepared statement.

Small roads receiving grants include:

• 78-mile Knox & Kane Railroad Co., $99,900 toward rehabilitating 70 track miles;
  
• 16-mile Oil Creek & Titusville Lines, $103, 500 toward improving a rail line and installing a turnout;
  
• eight-mile Philadelphia, Bethlehem and New England Railroad Co., $214,500 toward replacing rail and crossties, and rebuilding various track segments to support heavy axle loads;
  
• 45-mile Penn Eastern Rail Lines Inc., $302,250 toward better maintaining three branch lines;
  
• 154-mile Allegheny & Eastern Railroad Inc.,$450,000 toward installing welded rail in curves and more than 147 miles of ties; and
  
• 369-mile Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad Inc., $450,000 toward replacing crossties and upgrading rail.