Railway Age's Short Line/Regional Railroad of the Year awards are given for outstanding achievement in any of several areas—turnaround situations; consistent excellence; innovation in operations or maintenance; marketing; customer service; enhanced productivity; community relations; safety improvement; ingenuity in dealing with the unexpected. All Class II and III railroads are eligible. Two awards will be made: Short Line Railroad of the Year and Regional Railroad of the Year. The winners will be profiled in feature stories in Railway Age's March 2026 issue, and presented with specially designed awards at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition, to be held April 12-14, 2026, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The entry deadline is February 5, 2026.
