Transportation Seminar Series
All Things Railroad: Big and Small
Oct 25, 2011 (2:00 - 2:50 p.m., IACC 422)
Short Line railroads play a significant role in providing freight transportation services in the United States, and operate one-third of the rail track miles in the country. Over 500 small railroad companies currently provide that "first-mile, last-mile" service to thousands of freight shippers in the country, and are responsible for about 25 percent of US rail freight traffic each year.
The Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company is a 500 mile short line railroad headquartered in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and provides high quality rail service to approximately 50 shippers in southeast and central ND. This presentation will provide insight into the role short line railroads have in the state and national freight rail network, and why this role in significant for rural states like North Dakota.
Dan Zink, Director of Administration, Red River Valley & Western
Dan Zink has degrees in Agricultural Economics from ND State University, and was a Research Associate at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute from 1981-1992. He has been with the Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company since 1992. The RRV&W is a short line railroad headquartered in Wahpeton, ND, and serves agricultural shippers in southeast and central North Dakota. Zink's responsibilities include a variety of administrative activities including finance & accounting, business development, legislative affairs, and capital investment analysis. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, as well as a variety of community development Boards in Wahpeton. He also serves on the Advisory Council of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute.
