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Organizations from around the world have been lending expertise or donating funds to South Asian countries since the nations were wracked by tsunamis the day after Christmas. Now, the North America railroad industry wants to pitch in, too.

Led by researchers from the Association of American Railroads' (AAR) Transportation Technology Center Inc., a team of North American railroad experts is ready to travel to South Asia to help the countries rebuild rail lines destroyed by the enormous waves. Medical supplies, food and other necessities are being delivered to the nations by helicopter because roads, bridges and railways were washed out.

Earlier this week, AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta stating that the railroad industry is "prepared to recruit and support a multidisciplinary team of experts in rail infrastructure to travel to South Asia." The U.S. Department of Transportation is part of an inter-agency group directing U.S. reconstruction assistance in tsunami-impacted regions.