Alaska Railroad Joins AAR

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 1, 2011 – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today announced that the Alaska Railroad has become its newest member.

Established in 1914, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) is a full service railroad serving ports and communities from the Gulf of Alaska to the interior of Alaska and connecting them to the lower 48 states and Canada through roll on–roll off barge services. ARRA manages 651 miles of track, carries more than 400,000 passengers and hauls in excess of 6 million tons of freight annually. Though it is owned by the State of Alaska, the ARRC is run as a private business and generates revenue through its year-round freight and passenger operations.

The Alaska Railroad is a major freight hauler with an interline barge service, which allows us to be an interstate and international rail carrier, said ARRC President and CEO Chris Aadnesen. Our membership in AAR and on AAR committees will allow the Alaska Railroad to carry that message to policy makers and gives us a great opportunity to work with the leaders in the American freight rail industry on common legislative, regulatory and operational issues.

“We welcome Alaska Railroad’s membership in the AAR,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “The ARRC membership continues to strengthen the AAR’s ability to speak as a strong policy voice for the industry with members reaching all across the United States.”

Alaska Railroad joins the AAR as a full member, which includes holding a rotating seat on the AAR Board of Directors and a seat on AAR’s two governing committees, the Safety and Operations Management Committee and the Policy and Advocacy Management Committee. These committees are charged with developing policies and practices to enhance safety, promote solid business practices and public policies and provide quality customer service.