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Information About

Shortline




A short line is an independent are classified by the American Association Of Railroads as Class III . In Canada , Transport Canada classifies short line railroads as Class II .

In the beginning of the railroad age, nearly all railway lines were short lines, locally chartered, financed and operated; as the railroad industry matured, local lines were merged or acquired to create longer mainline railroads.

Especially since 1980 in the USA and 1990 in Canada , many short lines have been established when larger railroad companies sold off or abandoned low-profit portions of their trackage. Short line operators typically have lower labor, overhead and regulatory costs than Class I Railroad s and therefore are often able to operate profitably lines that lost money for their original owners.


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