advertisement

---

About 180 representatives from 173 short lines recently attended Norfolk Southern Railway's annual short line meeting in Roanoke, Va., according to the Class I's monthly newsletter.


The two-day meeting included a trade show, and railroad presentations on marketing, customer service and recent initiatives, such as Thoroughbred Operating Plan and Local Operating Plan Adherence. Short line officials also met one-on-one with NS representatives to discuss issues and share ideas.


"We focused on how we can achieve customer satisfaction and grow business for both short lines and NS," said John Kraemer, NS assistant vice president of short line marketing. "The more we understand each other's issues and processes, the more collective success we'll have."


NS officials are trying harder to understand small-road issues because the railroad connects with 241 short lines.


"Of special note was the commitment from NS to initiate a new year-over-year program to work with the short line association to attack common issues and problems in a deliberate and scientific manner during the upcoming year," said American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Richard Timmons. "Everyone stands to benefit from such a cooperative and coordinated approach."


At the meeting, NS marketing officials also recognized seven short lines for helping the Class I secure new business: Camp Chase Industrial Railroad Corp., Central Railroad Co. of Indianapolis, Georgia Central Railway L.P., Illinois Railnet Inc., Lancaster & Chester Railway Co., Sandersville Railroad Co., and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co.