Roughly 140,000 miles of track. Around 600 railroads. Nearly 580 of them are shortlines. So why then does the industry still treat them like their kid brother?

In this episode, Harris + Sydney delve into what actually defines a shortline (hint: it's annual revenue, not track miles), + why the smallest operators are so often the first to trial new technology. They also talk about the proximity advantage shortlines have - it doesn’t take thirty meetings + ten different committees when your shippers are close enough to quickly tell if your “good idea” worked or not.

Perhaps not unexpectedly, they also find a chance to touch on how shortlines are reacting to the merger news. And with over 500 different voices at the table, that’s a lot of opinions to digest - though you might just be surprised to hear where we think they land!

About Telegraph

Telegraph is a leader in delivering digital solutions to railroads, shippers, logistics service providers, terminals, + railcar leasing companies. With an integrated platform that provides price transparency, shipment visibility, + proactive business intelligence, Telegraph empowers customers, and makes shipping by rail easier + more effective. For more details, visit www.telegraph.io and follow us on LinkedIn.

The railcar leasing industry didn't appear out of nowhere - it was born the moment railroads stopped trying to do absolutely everything (they even owned hotels + golf courses!) + started focusing on the one thing they actually do best. In (Rail)Car Talk, Harris + Sydney are back with Erica Ray, SVP of Sales at AITX, for Part 2 of their conversation, this time focusing on the mechanics of railcar leasing + what it actually takes for a new shipper to get their hands on equipment.

Erica doesn't sugarcoat it: for a first-time shipper, breaking into the railcar market is not the easiest thing. She walks through the whys of that + what technological advancements could do to close the gap. The conversation also touches on what current market activity is signalling, from data center buildouts driving boxcar + aggregate hopper demand, to the rising appetite for cement.

Shortlines get their due, as the most underrated part of the industry, + Erica shares her reflection on what a career in rail does to your grit. Spoiler alert: it builds it considerably because nothing is as bad as a bad day on the railroad!

About Telegraph

Telegraph is a leader in delivering digital solutions to railroads, shippers, logistics service providers, terminals, + railcar leasing companies. With an integrated platform that provides price transparency, shipment visibility, + proactive business intelligence, Telegraph empowers customers, and makes shipping by rail easier + more effective. For more details, visit www.telegraph.io and follow us on LinkedIn.

Erica Ray, SVP of Leasing at AITX, didn't plan on a career in rail, but rail, as it turns out, had a plan for her. In "From RACS to Rail Leasing," Harris + Sydney sit down with Erica to trace a career that spans revenue accounting at Norfolk Southern (ask her all about RACS!), a front-row seat to the PTC era, a little rail-inspired stand-up, + a move to equipment leasing at AITX, which she views as both rewarding + considerably less stressful.

Erica brings her candid, been-there perspective to discuss some of the most common railroading headaches, as well as where she sees it all going in the near-term. Thick skin required, optimism optional - but, luckily, she has plenty of both!

About Telegraph

Telegraph is a leader in delivering digital solutions to railroads, shippers, logistics service providers, terminals, + railcar leasing companies. With an integrated platform that provides price transparency, shipment visibility, + proactive business intelligence, Telegraph empowers customers, and makes shipping by rail easier + more effective. For more details, visit www.telegraph.io and follow us on LinkedIn.