Arkansas & Missouri honored as ‘Regional Railroad for 2014’

Railway Age magazine has named Arkansas & Missouri Railroad its 2014 Regional Railroad of the Year. The award will be presented at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 25.
 
Springdale's Arkansas & Missouri Railroad has upgraded its 140-mile main line trackage and clearances to allow for higher speeds and doublestack container trains, while modernizing its locomotive fleet and locomotive shop, and adding local traffic moves to its existing feeder/distributor market role. The railroad’s equipment is equally up to date. A&M typically rosters 500 freight cars and, in 2013, acquired three EMD SD70AC3 locomotives to handle its growing business.

"Under Reilly McCarren's leadership, the Arkansas & Missouri has grown into a diverse rail transportation company offering transmodal services, freight car leasing and repair, warehousing, industrial land and port services, and passenger excursions, in addition to excellent freight rail that interchanges with no fewer than three Class I's", notes Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono.

Founded in 1986, the A&M operates on 140 miles of track, 134 of those miles its main line from southwestern Missouri through western Arkansas; with its Fort Smith operations flirting with the Oklahoma border.

Spurred by $23 million in  investments during 2013 and continuing into this year, the A&M, is intent on “upping its game,” as it has for 27 years, as it continues “to introduce new companies to the business-friendly environment of Northwest Arkansas and southwestern Missouri, McCarren said.