 Trains and railroads were the talk of the town in Brinard today as the Brinard Lakes Chamber held an event titled Railroads 2017, which included a discussion on railroad safety and the economic impact of rail transportation. The event brought out citizens and local and state dignitaries alike for the presentation and discussion, which featured a representative from Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, as well as a lobbyist on rail transportation matters, who says that it's important that legislators continue to advocate for railroads in government. The railroads play a big part, obviously, in the economic infrastructure of the state, and they move about a quarter of everything that comes in and out of the state of Minnesota. Railroads are private businesses. The more regulation, the more taxes placed on railroads, the less they have to invest in their own infrastructure, and the more difficulty it is to move stuff. Twenty-six percent of rail tonnage transported through Minnesota is transported by rail. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.