How does a “Short Line” railroad work?

Question

Curious about who owns and maintains the equipment and how the track is interfaced with the major rails.

In: Other

Answer 1

short line rails have many different owners; and its up to them to maintain the line. They charge others to use their lines or run their own rail service

short line rails are capable to connect to any class 1 railroad with the appropriate agreements in place…….the only difference is who owns the section of line, same standards in construction

consider short line rail local highways or “last 3 miles” of railways; and clas I are the interstates