For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

BETHLEHEM, Pa., September 12, 2000 - Five short line railroads of the Subsidiary Railroad Companies of Bethlehem Steel Corporation have won national awards from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) for their outstanding safety performance during the year 1999.

For the second consecutive year, the Patapsco & Back Rivers Railroad, which serves Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point, Md., Division, and other facilities, has won the ASLRRA's gold award for outstanding safety performance in its class. The ASLRRA safety awards are based on a safety frequency index compiled by Federal Railroad Administration.

Frank K. Turner, president of ASLRRA, congratulated the winning railroads "for their outstanding efforts in keeping safety number one in the short line and regional railroad industry," adding that "the safety record of these railroads indicates the dedication of our member railroads to safety."

Four Bethlehem railroads also received ASLRRA's "Jake Award with Distinction" for completing the year 1999 with no reportable injuries, fatalities, lost workdays or train accidents. The Bethlehem Railroads receiving the Jake Awards with Distinction for their outstanding 1999 safety performance are: the Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England, Bethlehem, Pa.; the Conemaugh & Black Lick, Johnstown, Pa.; the Steelton & Highspire, Steelton, Pa., and the Upper Merion & Plymouth, Coatesville, Pa.

The awards will be presented at the ASLRRA annual meeting in Chicago on October 1-3. Accepting the awards on behalf of Bethlehem and its employees will be J. Michael Zaia, president of Bethlehem's Subsidiary Railroad Companies.

Commenting on the railroads' 1999 safety performance, Mr. Zaia said: "This year's railroad safety awards are further evidence of the total commitment to safety by our corporation, our railroads and our employees because safety is a core value that will not be compromised. The awards are a tribute to all the employees of Bethlehem's railroads who are dedicated to making safety our top priority every hour of every day of their working lives. We are proud of them and their continuing contributions to outstanding safety performance."

Bethlehem Steel has nine subsidiary railroads that provide short line rail services for its operations and other facilities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York.