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!

Register Today!

Great Northern Best Western

Host Hotel Information

835 Great Northern Boulevard Helena MT, 59601

Delta Colonial

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

REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT

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:

Why Attend

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