Greater Northwest Rail Summit
August 25 – 27, 2026 · Helena, Montana
Co-Hosted by Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
& Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER)
Greater Northwest Rail Summit & BSPRA Annual Conference
Montana Heritage Center
225 Roberts St, Helena, MT 59620
Save the date for the Greater Northwest Rail Summit, held in conjunction with the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority’s Annual Conference, August 25–27, 2026, in Helena, Montana. This three-day gathering will convene leaders and stakeholders from across the rail industry, government, manufacturing, tourism, and community development sectors for timely discussions on the future of passenger and freight rail in Montana and across the Greater Northwest. Agenda and speakers coming soon!
Host Hotel Information
835 Great Northern Boulevard Helena MT, 59601
2301 Colonial Drive
Helena MT, 59601
Agenda at a Glance
Tuesday, August 25th
11AM — Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board Meeting
(open to all)
12:30 PM —Opening Lunch
1 - 4PM — Summit Sessions
Summit Welcome: Rail Corridors from Coast to Country, Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity, Commerce and Mobility
The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Moving into the 21st Century: Modern Train
Manufacturing and Procurement in North America
4 - 6 PM — Opening Reception
Montana State Capitol Rotunda
Wednesday, August 26th
9 AM — Welcome and Introductions
9AM - 5PM — Summit Sessions
Summit Introduction: High Performance Rail: NW multi-modal freight connections and export acceleration
America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation
Big Sky North Coast Corridor Update
11:45 AM — Lunch
Concurrent Session 1:
Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest
Connecting to Rail Service:
Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities
Concurrent Session 2:
More Jobs in More Places: Rail Workforce Needs and Investment in the 21st Century
Connecting to Rail Service: Expanding Tourism from a Railroad Spine
Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region
Wednesday Evening
6 - 8 PM — Banquet and Founders Award
Montana Heritage Center
Thursday, August 27th
8 - 8:30 AM — Hot Breakfast and Welcome
8AM - 12PM — Summit Sessions
Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance Rail Movement
Public-Private Partnerships in the Rail Industry: Investing in the Future: A Fireside Chat with Class I Railroads
Additional speakers and session details will be added as confirmed.
Co-Hosted by:
