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Railroad industry briefs committee on freight network, cargo theft and grade‑crossing issues
Summary
The Tennessee Railroad Association presented an overview of freight rail operations in the state, highlighting Memphis’s national importance, factors causing blocked crossings, the rise in organized cargo theft, and federal and state safety programs including quiet zones and the Section 130 grade‑crossing program.
The Tennessee Railroad Association told the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee that freight rail is a critical part of the state’s transportation network and outlined key safety and security challenges, including a recent rise in organized cargo theft.
Tasha Alexander, speaking for the association, said the U.S. freight rail network comprises roughly 40,000 miles of track and that about 70% of passenger rail operates on freight‑owned tracks. She described Tennessee as strategically significant: Memphis is one of five U.S. cities served by five Class‑I railroads and serves as a gateway between eastern and western rail networks.
Alexander reviewed federal regulators with jurisdiction over railroads — the Federal Railroad Administration, the Surface Transportation Board, PHMSA, the…
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