June 2, 2020 - TRA Newswire -

Short Line operator OmniTRAX, one of the fastest growing railroads in North America, is the recipient of safety commendations from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association for 2019.

Panhandle Northern Railway, a Texas short line operated by OmniTRAX, earned a safety commendation from the ASLRRA for achieving a 0.00 Frequency/Severity Index, a measure of rail safety, for the entire year.  Panhandle Northern Railway

“Safety is at the forefront of our members’ operations, even more so during these turbulent times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The short line industry is continuing to make significant strides towards zero injuries, with ASLRRA members rapidly closing the gap as measured against the entire railroad community,” said Chuck Baker, President of ASLRRA.
Panhandle Northern Railroad (PNR) is a former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (now BNSF) line operating on 31 miles of track between the towns of Panhandle and Borger, Texas.   Borger is the home of the nation’s largest inland petrochemical complex. PNR handles carbon black, liquid petroleum gas, chemicals, petroleum products, scrap metal, and fertilizer.
“Safety is a core value at OmniTRAX. Our grassroots approach to our employees’ safety has brought true pride and ownership on safety at every railroad within the OmniTRAX network,” said Sergio Sabatini, President of OmniTRAX.  “We are honored to be recognized by the ASLRRA for safety. We are always focused on improving our performance and will continue to be an industry leader in safety and operating practices, while providing best-in-class service to our customers.”

Sabatini also revealed the OmniTRAX’s annual OmniSAFE awards, which are given the company’s railroads that report zero injuries for the prior year. A total of 16 lines received the honor for 2019, including Central Texas & Colorado River Railway in Central Texas.  The Central Texas & Colorado River Railway, LLC (CTXR), formerly known as the Heart of Texas Railroad, is a Class III railroad operating freight rail services between Brady and Lometa, TX over 68 miles of track. The CTXR has a direct Class I interchange in Lometa, TX with the BNSF Railway. CTXR current traffic includes grain, feed, building products, aggregates, and “industrial sand” known as frac sand.

Sand Springs Railway in Tulsa, Oklahoma was another recipient of the OmniSAFE award.