Chicago South Shore, other Anacostia affiliates recognized for rail safety

Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad's (CSS) transportation department employees last week reached the safety milestone of achieving five straight years of injury-free performance.

The achievement was the first in South Shore's history, reflecting a safety emphasis fostered across the company, CSS officials said in a press release.

"This success has created a strong sense of pride and ownership in our team. It’s how they work each and every day,” said Mike Shore, vice president of operations. “This happened over time with the support of every employee, every department and every manager.”

An affiliate of Anacostia Rail Holdings, South Shore operates 127 miles of line providing rail freight service between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana, and Chicago and Kingsbury, Indiana, with connections to all Chicago-area railroads as well as the Port of Chicago.

Meanwhile, Anacostia announced last week that CSS and two other affiliates recently earned Jake Awards from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA). The association presents the awards annually to short lines and regionals that have no reportable personal injuries as reported by the Federal Railroad Administration or an injury rate that is lower or equal to the average for their class.

The other two Anacostia affiliates that received ASLRRA Jake Awards were Northern Lines Railway LLC, which was recognized with the Jake with Distinction Award for being injury-free in 2018; and the New York & Atlantic Railway Co., which also was recognized for its safety record in 2018.